Freetown, Feb. 6, 015 (MOHS) – Continue his assessment tour of health facilities in the Bo, Pujehun and Moyamba districts towards building a resilient health system in the districts, Deputy Health and Sanitation Minister 1, Mr. Foday Sawi has commended front line health workers for their relentless effort in the fight to contain the Ebola disease.
Addressing the Bo District Health Management Team in Bo, Mr. Foday Sawi reiterated the need for them to continue the hard work and dedication to service, noting that a single case is a big threat to the nation.
Deputy Health and Sanitation Minister 1, Mr. Foday Sawi
He said his mission was aimed at identifying the challenges faced in tackling the Ebola pandemic, and the support required to bring the scourge to an immediate end.
The District Medical Officer, Dr. Alhaji Sayni Turay lauded the Deputy Minister for the visit disclosing that Bo has recorded zero cases for 22 days at the time of the visit.
District Medical Officer, Dr. Alhaji Sayni Turay
He expressed the need for the construction and rehabilitation of additional health facilities with a view to meeting the Post Ebola challenges in the entire district. He appealed for the recruitment of Surveillance Officers into the Civil Service to maintain the current trend and strengthen output.
The District Health Sister 1, Gladys Sesay suggested the timely absorption of volunteers and students from the Medical School into the Health System Strengthening Programme.
District Health Sister 1, Bo, Sister Gladys Sesay
She said the Bo District Health Management Team lacks mobility, and suggested that the vehicles assigned to District Ebola Response Centre be handed over to the DHMT after the Ebola.
The Hospital Secretary, Max Charley disclosed that risk allowances of front line health workers are long overdue, and yet to be paid, and appealed to the Deputy Minister to facilitate the prompt payment.
Briefing the Deputy Minister at the District Health Management Team office in Pujehun, the District Health Superintendent (Watsan Focal Person) Koroma Mattia, calls for the urgent training of all cadres of staff to strengthening the health service delivering system.
He noted that some structures are to be improved in the remote areas, as well as the need to building community confidence, and ownership to establish good friendly relationship between the health facilities and the community.
The Matron, Pujehun Government Hospital, Sister Kadie Kpaka expresses concern over delayed promotion, describing the situation as a serious concern for all health workers in Pujehun.
The District Health Sister 1, Sister Hawa Kallon disclosed that due to the relentless efforts, they were able to achieve more than 68 days zero Ebola infection cases.
District Health Sister 1, Pujehun, Sister Hawa Kollon
The Deputy Minister congratulated Pujehun for the achievement as the first district to reach 42 days zero Ebola infection case, adding that until Sierra Leone is declared Ebola FREE by WHO the war continues.
Mr. Foday Sawi also visited the Command Centre of the Ebola Response Centre in Pujehun where he was briefed by the District Situation Analyst Mr. Ceicil Macauleyabout the Pujehun success story and Major Albert Samowai Kamanda, Head of the Burial Team about the safe and dignified burial in Pujehun.
In a similar vein, the Deputy Health Minister, also held meetings with the Moyamba District Health Management Team at Moyamba where he was briefed about the current situation of the health facility, coupled with suggestions and concerns for the strengthening of the health care delivery service.
Mr. Foday Sawi’s visits to the Command Centre of the Moyamba District Ebola Response Centre
A visit to the Command Centre of the Moyamba District Ebola Response Centre formed high point of the assessment tour.
KK/MOHS
