By Jonathan Abass Kamara
The Chief Medical Officer, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Brima Kargbo has told a meeting with the newly trained 61 certified and qualified Midwives from the National School of Midwifery that the destiny of Sierra Leone lies on the health workforce.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Brima Kargbo
Addressing the sixty-one Midwives of Set 30 of the National School of Midwifery in the conference hall of the Ministry on June 14, 2016 in preparation for their postings to different duty stations across the country, Dr. Kargbo recalled the pains the health sector and the country went through during the Ebola outbreak and encouraged them to be committed and dedicated in the discharge of their duties.
Group photo of newly certified midwives with the Chief Nursing and Midwifery
Officer
The public he said must see them as credible in performing their duties with a sense of responsibility, passion and care, especially at a time when the Ministry is rebranding its activities towards building a resilient health system for the populace.
Dr. Brima Kargbo re-emphasized the need to practice on the oath taken and the code of conduct of the nursing and midwives profession, adding that there is now a human resource capacity building motivation for staff both in-country and out of Sierra Leone.
The Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Matron Hossinatu Koroma lamented the training of nurses by unauthorized and unaccredited nursing schools which she noted has had an adverse effect on the nursing profession.
Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Matron Hossinatu Koroma
She encouraged the midwives to make use of the Civil Service Code and Regulations as the Health Ministry is going through a lot of reforms for which the Directorate of Nursing is not an exception.
The Directorate of Nursing she disclosed has developed a Strategic Plan and Policy framework, and career progression pathway, and a tool to guide the Directorate for the opening of nursing schools among other key issues and challenges to move the nursing profession forward.
Making his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, David Banya described the nursing profession as respectful and honourable and implored the nurses to serve as role models noting that no health facility exists without the deployment of nurses.
He encouraged the midwives to report promptly to their new duty stations and to exhibit integrity at the highest cardinal point as certified trained and qualified health professionals.
The Ministry and UNFPA the Permanent Secretary said have invested in them for a positive output, hoping that the resources provided would yield dividend.
He acquainted them about the cleaning of the Ministry’s Pay Roll, disclosing that 756 on post have been regarded as ghost workers for not captured during the verification exercise, and may likely pay back to the Consolidated Fund or face legal action for receiving salaries they do not merit or deserve.
The newly certified midwives are said to be posted to various districts including the Western Area, District Health Management Team and the Connaught and Ola During Children’s Hospital.
