Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr Austin Demby has said he was impressed with the facility, equipment, and activities of the Center for Diagnostic and Research in Molecular Medicine (C.D.R.M.M) in Dakar, Senegal.
This micro-biological center is in the process of establishing a multidisciplinary diagnostic center health clinics and DNA forensics in Sierra Leone in the tune of €200 million.
During the Health Minister’s participation in the Mercy Ships International symposium in Dakar on surgical obstetric and anesthesia care systems strengthening in Africa, he used the opportunity to visit the C.D.R.M.M center at Mermoz.
Led by the Sierra Leone Ambassador to Senegal Alhaji Brima Elvis Koroma, and accompanied by the Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sartie Mohamed Kenneh and other senior officials of the Health Ministry, they were taken on a conducted tour by the Director of the medical laboratory, Dr. Cheikh Tidiane Sy.
After the conducted tour of the medical laboratory, the Health Minister said, “impressive! This underscores what President Bio’s Government has been talking about public/private partnership investment.”
Dr. Demby described the proposal from the laboratory center as solid for the establishment of a microbiology facilities in Sierra Leone. He disclosed that his Ministry was looking at the proposal before it will be presented to cabinet and subsequently before Parliament for ratification.
The Director of the Laboratory, Dr. Cheikh Tidiane Sy, was very pleased with the political will when he said they met with the President of Sierra Leone, H.E. Dr. Julius Maada Bio. He thanked the Sierra Leone Ambassador to Senegal H.E Alhaji Brima Elvis Koroma for his role in taking investment back to his country.
On Tuesday, March 29, 2022 during a visit by H.E Alhaji Brima Elvis Koroma of the C.D.R.M.M center, Dr. Cheikh Tidiane Sy explained their ambition to implement in Sierra Leone a modern facility accredited to the highest international standards capable of providing diagnostic services for all diseases using the means of molecular biology, medical imagery and other latest technical developments in the field.
He disclosed further to the Ambassador that the establishment of the center will be an example of an efficient and beneficial partnership between the state and a private center that will substantially improve the quality of healthcare services in the country, better prevent crime and will provide jobs and training programs to Sierra Leoneans.
The business model of the medical laboratory is to invest to build, equip and manage, and construct centers in the regional headquarter towns. They proposed having mobile clinics equipped for the rural areas where they will treat specialized diseases, cancer and provide medical emergencies.
The center will have a clinical biology unit, molecular unit, cytology-histology unit, parasitology, medical imaging unit, human identification unit ( DNA forensics- paternity testing, DNA bank), radiography, research, development and training unit, genetic finger printing.
The biological center has already signed an MOU for a rented facility in Freetown to commence their operations before they could construct their own facilities.
By Ishmael Bayoh, Information Attachè Sierra Leone Embassy Dakar, Senegal