In a memorable occasion at the Port Loko City Council Hall last Friday, the Minister of Health and Sanitation, Prof. Alpha Tejan Wurie and his entourage, have delivered a consignment of Free Healthcare drugs, uniforms for nurses and doctors, delivery beds for pregnant women and other assorted items for health workers in the north-western district headquarter town of Port Loko.
The distribution of the essential commodities came at a time the Government of Sierra Leone is strongly focusing on the fight against the dreadful coronavirus pandemic.
Communities had been a bit skeptical whether Government would strengthen the free healthcare scheme which to them had been very useful initially.
Residents of Port Loko expressed gratitude to President Julius Maada Bio and the Minister of Health Prof. Wurie, for their continuous support and commitments towards the development of the north-western region.
Seven trucks loaded with PPEs, hand sanitizers, uniforms for nurses and doctors, one hundred delivery beds for pregnant women and drugs worth millions of Leones were safely delivered by the National Medical Supplies Agency.
These items were handed over to the Resident Minister of the north-western region, Madam Haja Issata Abdulai Kamara for the people of Port Loko.
Since 2018, the Government of President Bio had been providing resources for the procurement of free health care drugs.
In his statement, Prof. Wurie told the gathering that the previous government introduced the free healthcare scheme in Sierra Leone, but heavily relied on donor partners especially DFID, to buy the drugs, but the new administration had shown serious commitments towards free healthcare in Sierra Leone. He added that Government was expected to contribute 50% of the yearly funds generated internally for the year 2020, but the plan was completely disturbed as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
“When President Maada Bio came into governance he decided to focus on health workers as part of his human capital development strategy, and so he instructed me to have additional health workers at the ministry; this process is ongoing,” he said. “Additionally, we are to employ more 4000 health personnel,” he continued.
Professor Wurie also added that health workers should be well catered for, which is why the Government of Sierra Leone increased salaries for health workers, and also recently launched a health insurance scheme for frontline workers fighting the coronavirus pandemic. “These are all packages put together for our health personnel,” he insisted.
“Today we are here to hand over the free healthcare drugs, but more importantly, uniforms for our nurses including doctors,” he said.
The Minister further noted that Government is also providing beddings for all government hospitals and PHUs to ensure proper sanitation.
He added that the uniforms were meant for easy identification of Nurses and Doctors to as they execute their duty in the respective communities. “We want you to feel proud of what you are doing, because I have told the President that the current workforce at the Ministry of Health will be a force for good,” he said. The Health Minister revealed that President Bio had authorized him to buy Cost Recovery drugs, which he said were being procured as he spoke. He admonished health care practitioners to make better use of the facility.
Managing Director of the National Medical Supplies Agency, Dr. Laurence Sandi said that the drugs which had been distributed are of high quality.
He recalled that few months before, they had been in Port Loko to distribute another set of items. He promised the people of government’s faithful promise to supply free healthcare drug after every three months.
“I want to assure you all that this process will continue, we have got enough PPEs and other protective items for health workers and all of these items will be surely given to you,” he promised.
The Resident Minister, North West Madam Haja Issata Abdulai Kamara thanked President Bio for fulfilling his promise to health workers.
She said the Port Loko District Medical Team had been working hard to fight against COVID-19, adding that president Bio has focused on education, health and quality electricity supply to Port Loko district which are fundamental to human development.
“I want to thank the Minister of Health for the impact he has created in the health sector since his appointment. I want to urge all traditional leaders, civil society and members of the public to monitor the utilization of these items especially the free health care drugs. I wish to I had this facility during my tender age, but our children are blessed to have got a President that cares for his people,” she concluded.
By Mohamed Massaquoi, PRO MoHS
12/08/2020. ISSUE NO: 7885