By George M.O. Williams
Freetown, Sierra Leone: The Sierra Leone Urban Research Center (SLURC) on Thursday, September 19, 2024, convened a conference that is aimed at addressing the challenges in urban healthcare across Sierra Leone. The event themed “Bridging the Gap: Urban Health Transitions towards Just and Inclusive Cities,” gathered key partners, community stakeholders, and health researchers at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown.
The conference marked the culmination of the Accountability and Responsiveness in Informal Settlements for Equality (ARISE) research consortium, a groundbreaking initiative undertaken in collaboration with the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS), the Institute of Gender and Children Health Research (IGCHR), and the Centre of Dialogue on Human Settlement and Poverty Alleviation (CODOHSAPA).
During the event, several presentations were delivered, with a particular focus on healthcare accountability and systems in three informal settlements: Moyiba, Dworzack, and Cockle Bay. The research conducted by SLURC highlighted the ongoing struggles to access adequate healthcare services and the quality of care available in these communities.
Dr. Joseph Macarthy, Executive Director of SLURC, emphasized the importance of incorporating community perspectives into healthcare policymaking. He noted that their focus on health aligns with the government’s healthcare programs and stressed the need for comprehensive approaches that go beyond the provision of medicines to address the underlying structures of the healthcare system.
“Our research aims to foster transformative changes in the healthcare system, particularly for vulnerable populations in informal settlements,” Dr. Macarthy stated. He added that the evidence gathered through their research is already informing health policies, empowering public health practitioners and decision-makers to address health inequalities more effectively.
Deputy Health Minister 1, Dr. Charles Senessie, acknowledged the valuable contributions of SLURC’s research to the ministry’s service delivery. He emphasized the importance of ensuring equitable access to healthcare for all, regardless of background or location.
The Deputy Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Sarjoh Aziz-Kamara, also highlighted the vision of ARISE as a crucial step in improving accountability and promoting well-being through community engagement and participatory methods. He noted that the consortium’s report focuses on the health and living conditions in informal settlements and advocates for increased community awareness and collective efforts to foster equitable dialogue.
The knowledge shared during the workshop is expected to be compiled into a comprehensive document that would guide future actions to improve urban healthcare in Sierra Leone.