Lack of funds has caused operations of the National Emergency Medical Services (NEMS) to be halted in many districts across the country.
Paramedics told Premier News that they have been without salary for over two months now and there is no indication that they will be paid soon.
It should be noted that lack of fuel has caused operation of ambulances to be halted in many districts for past three weeks, paramedics who are is familiar with NEMS operations told this medium.
The Minister of Health and Sanitations, Dr. Austin Demby has recently alluded to the fact that lack of funds poses serious challenges in the implementation of health services provided by NEMS.
He said that his Ministry is working to secure contracts with petroleum and vehicle maintenance service providers in a bid to address the challenges of fuel, repair and maintenance of ambulances to enable effective operation of National Emergency Medical Services.
The paramedics said that they have been informed through a memo that the NEMS would scale down operation because of funding constraint. This decision if taken would impact negatively on the national healthcare delivery system and gains made so far in the fight against infant and maternal deaths.
The Minister said that as part of its new approach, the Health Ministry would also bring in new ambulances and link the 117 toll-free line to the ambulance services.
He said that over the last four years Sierra Leone has improved on Primary Healthcare Unit Services, adding that the country could now boast of over 1,000 PHU.
By George M.O. Williams