The Ministry of Health and Sanitations (MoHS) in collaboration with various international partners has on Thursday April 7, 2022, commenced a 3-day (7th ,8th ,9th April) national health summit in a bid to form tangible solutions to the looming health challenges in Sierra Leone.
The summit which commenced on Thursday is themed: “Transforming Healthcare Delivery Towards Universal Health Coverage” bring together health stakeholders and partners at the Bintumani Conference Centre in Freetown.
In his keynote address, President Julius Maada Bio said that despite Sierra Leone’s gains and aspirations, as a government they are mindful of persisting challenges in the health sector and his government would continue to work hard to resolve the looming challenges.
President Bio said that the National Medical Supplies Agency continues its salutary work of distributing essential medical drugs and supplies in a timely and predictable manner, adding that government is also investing extensively in health workforce training and service delivery in the sector.
He commended the Global Fund for their US$160 million grant to support the fight against HIV, TB, Malaria, and Leprosy and for improving health management information systems through digitalization; and the World Bank for their grant of US$60 million to strengthen health systems in some of the poorest, health-deprived areas of our country.
President also recognized implementing and development partner that have built health clinics, helped train health workers, provided vaccines and health care equipment, promoted women’s health, and supported nourishment and feeding programmes at no cost to Government.
“The government has increased the health care budget and will soon spend in excess of Le70 billion in infrastructural upgrades of 100% of all major Government hospitals across the country irrespective of region,” President Bio said.
Outlining key deliverables to reform the health sector, the Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Austin Demby said that they would ensure that they train responsible health workers with the right attitude, adding they will ensure an effective operational ambulance services and adequate health care supply chain.
He added that there will be effective research and that data provided would be put in an information system, and there is going to be health security for all.
He cited that to achieve all the success they would need health financing, partnership, and effective collaboration with international and health partners as foundation to support their efforts.
Dr. Demby said that the Ministry is working to reduce maternal mortality from 1, 717 to less than 300 deaths in the next two to three years, adding that to achieve it they are going to tackle teenage pregnancy because 40 percent of teenage pregnancy contribute to maternal mortality.
“Together we are going to achieve it. We need to work on sexuality education in the household and teenagers who gets pregnant must be supported, and should also work on primary healthcare unit education,” Dr. Demby said.
He pointed out that Primary Healthcare Units (PHUs) should be strengthen for them to be able to do quality delivery, adding they the Ministry is going to develop a new app that would enable pregnant women to register their babies.
The Chairman, Civil Society Organization on health, Victor Lansana Koroma said the Ministry should also ensure health accountability, adding that information and research remain a challenge.
He added that there should always be availability of drugs. He urged government to address the issues of fake medical doctor, noting that health services should be accessible.
He also urged government to fulfill the 15% contribution to the health sector as agreed in the Abuja declaration.
By George M.O. Williams