Bo, Jul.24, 09 (MOHS) The Directorate of the Reproductive and Child Health in the Ministry of Health and Sanitation has concluded a weeklong Supervision and Assessment on the positive implementation of its Three Months Districts Plan which as part of its strategy aims at reducing the high incidence of maternal and child mortality in the country.

Dr, Samuel Kargbo

The Reproductive and Child Health Team which included the Director of Hospitals and Laboratory Services, Directorates of Primary Health Care, and Internal Audit and Public Relations Unit, in the first phase of their mission visited the Bo, Kenema, Pujehun, Tonkolili and Kono districts where they dilated on the Focus of the RCH Districts Plan, its challenges, and the level of participation and implementation

Addressing the Bo District Health Management Team, the Director of Reproductive and Child Health, Dr. Samuel Kargbo underscored the importance of the Plan noting that if successfully implemented would help the Ministry achieved its desired goal in the reduction of maternal and child mortality in the country

He reminded his audience about the launching of the reproductive and child health strategic plan by President Koroma, and the importance government attaches to the Plan towards achieving the fourth and fifth Millennium Development Goals which aims at promoting maternal and newborn health to a satisfactory level.

Dr Kargbo encouraged the team to inculcate a culture of responsibility and commitment in executing the Plan, adding that the Six Months and the National Plans are also on the pipeline for positive implementation.

The Director of Hospitals and Laboratory Services, Dr. Duramani Conteh reiterated the need for the hospitals and the primary health care units to work as a team noting that critical cases from the periphery are handled at hospital level.

He re-emphasised the need for the Medical Superintendent in the hospital and the District Medical Officer to work together with team spirit, noting that obstructed Labour and other complications from the periphery to the hospital needed joint efforts. This challenge, if implemented, Dr. Conteh said would go a long way in reducing maternal and child mortality countrywide

The Directorate of Primary Health Care Representative, Sister Patricia Abu encouraged her colleague nurses- midwives, MCH aides, hospital matrons, maternity and theatre staff among others to embrace the reproductive and child health programme for posterity as well as for the good of the country in making sierra leone a healthy nation.

Addressing pregnant women, lactating mothers, and a cross section of the Jembe community in the Baoma chiefdom, Bo district, the Reproductive and Child Health Director, Dr. Samuel Kargbo ,intimated the people about plans to establish five Basic Emergency Maternal Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEMONC) facilities in each district, informing the community that all BEMONC facilities would be equipped with trained and qualified staff and the necessary equipment to make it more viable.

The District Medical Officer