In Kono, Abdul Kuyateh (B.A. Hons in Mass Communication), one of our Senior IEC Officers spent over one week traveling all over various chiefdoms in the district looking at the health status of the people of Kono. The following is an interview with A Widower, Sahr Ngauja, Tombodu, Kamara Chiefdom, Kono

I am an indigene of Tombodu Village, Kamara Chiefdom, Kono district, age 58.

I lost my wife late Sia in 1998 during the war. She died in labour, as there was neither a functioning Maternal Health Centre, nor any trained personnel to mid wife her. She was in labour for the whole day, gave birth at 10 p.m. and passed off almost immediately.

 

Sahr Ngauja, Widower, impressed with current health care at Tombodu, Kono

The baby too died few hours later. Indeed, it was a bitter experience. What was more painful is the baby was our first born.

But I was not the only victim then; several of my colleagues also lost their wives during labour due to the lack of primary health services in the village.  

The current health situation however, is incomparable as the Ministry of Health and Sanitation has scored high marks in the area of health services in the district.

The proliferation of Health Centres and Posts in all the Chiefdoms has been a welcome development geared towards cutting down the high rate of infant and maternal mortality.

Emergencies such as bleeding and diarrhea can now be tackled by the staff at the centre without having to be referred to Koidu town.

There is free supply of anti-mosquito nets to maternal patients, which has drastically reduced the incidence of malaria on children, lactating mothers and pregnant women alike.

Even tough my late wife and I were unfortunate not have enjoyed these facilities, I personally laud the efforts of government for the huge resources that they are pouring in the health sector especially at chiefdom and district and village levels.

I wish I will soon get married again, impregnate my wife and have a baby boy safely delivered Tombodu Maternal Health Post.