By Jonathan Abass Kamara and Kadrie Koroma
The Director of Hospitals and Laboratory Services, Dr. Victor Matt Lebby has reiterated government’s commitment to strengthen laboratory services in all 14 medical districts in Sierra Leone.
Director of Hospitals and Laboratory Services, Dr. Victor Matt-Lebby
Speaking at the launching and rolling out of major laboratory equipment, computers and accessories, and medical laboratory test forms together with other essential items to the four regional and 14 medical district hospitals in the country at a ceremony held at the Central Public Health Reference Laboratory Complex at Lakka, Dr. Lebby said the availability and distribution of the items which also includes refrigerator for storage of blood samples, autoclave, and Bio-chemistry analyzers is line with the President Koroma’s Post Ebola Priority Recovery Plan and Agenda for Prosperity.
Part of the laboratory equipment and computers
He noted the challenges experienced during the Ebola outbreak when the Health Sector was ill-prepared with a weak laboratory system, adding that with the present structures now in place, all government hospitals would be able to deliver quality laboratory services and improve maternal and child health outcomes across the country.
One of the Autoclaves
Dr. Lebby noted the lack of confidence in the weak system resulting to people seeking services from private health institutions pointing out that with the present capacity, they are now capable of providing services for different tests including the Zika virus which is also of public health concern.
He maintained that the Presidential 6-9 months recovery priorities have been achieved, and with the current trend, they hope to rebuild a resilient health care system within the framework of the 10-12 months plan.
Dr. Lebby told his audience that with the new medical laboratory Test Forms and Registered developed, accurate data would be captured in a computerize form for professional use as well as for other record purposes.
He underscored the importance of the equipment as the Free Health Care is still in progress, and thanked the World Health Organization for the support, noting also the contributions of Public Health England, CDC China and other international organizations that came to their aid when the Ebola was at its peak.
The WHO Laboratory Team Lead, Dr. Ekaete Tobin described the availability and distribution of the equipment as an invaluable move towards building a resilient system in all district hospitals.
WHO Laboratory Team Lead, Dr. Ekaete Tobin
She reiterated her organization’s continued support to ensuring that the desired goal is achieved.
The Senior Technical Laboratory Manager, Options/DFID, Mr. Austine Adeyemo described the occasion as very supportive to their plan of integration in providing quality laboratory system across the country.
Senior Technical Laboratory Manager, Options/DFID, Mr.
Austine Adeyemo
He reiterated Options and DFID commitment to continue its support to the Directorate of Hospitals and Laboratory Services and the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, hoping that the equipment would serve as catalyst for posterity.
