Freetown, Aug. 12, 015 (MOHS) – Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Abu Bakarr Fofanah has said that the newly launched Service Level Agreement (SLA) by President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma would ensure equitable services in all 13 districts in Sierra Leone.
Health and Sanitation Minister Dr. Abu Bakarr Fofanah making his presentation
Giving an overview and status of the SLA at a meeting held in the conference hall of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation on Tuesday August 11, 2015 with senior officials of the Ministry, Dr. Fofanah reiterated that the Service Level Agreement would ensure quality standard, avert duplication of efforts, strengthen monitoring of partners interventions at the district and local levels and ensures that significant proportion of donor investments reach the beneficiaries.
The SLA the Minister opined would help the Ministry to capture all projects, know who is doing what, and ensures that programmes are aligned with the identified needs and priorities of the people and communities.
Dr. Fofanah noted the significant progress made by government and partners in past years but yet Sierra Leone is being measured with the worst indicators in the world’s human index report. He observed that resources to NOGs and Health Implementing partners have not been executed in the interest of the people and as required by the guiding principles and policy of the Ministry. More than half of the health facilities countrywide do not have simple facilities such as toilets and safe drinking water even though some NGOs received resources for such activities. The Service Level Agreement now requires the implementing partners to sign an agreement that captures three phases: Pre-implementation of the project, During implementation and Post implementation.
This, the Minister said would follow endorsement to take off, to continue, suspend or terminated, and consequently evaluated and publish for ownership.
He reminded his audience that with the non-performing NGOs Sierra Leone still remain the worse and last in health indicators, adding that it is high time we take our destiny in our hands and make all implementing partners accountable for sustainable development. “We must be masters of our destiny”, Dr. Fofanah maintained.
The key areas of the Ministry’s interest, the Minister said are imbedded on the roles and structures, the overall cost analysis, sustainable plan and an exit strategy including disposal of assets.
The use of government logo along-side other logos erection of sign post, Presidential monitoring tour and other key issues formed part of the presentation.
JAK/KK/MOHS/SLENA
