By: Aaron Bundu Lahai-Head of Media and Public Relations
The Vice President of Sierra Leone Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh on Thursday 14th September, 2023 visited the Ola During Children’s Hospital and the Princess Christian Maternity Hospital (PCMH) commonly called Cottage at Fourah Bay Road in Freetown. The purpose of the visit was to have first hand information on the operation of the hospitals, toured the facilities, and interact with the hospitals staff. Vice President Jalloh in his address to the press after the conducted tour of the hospital facilities narrated intervention made by the New Direction Government in the health sector from 2018 to present. The interventions include budget allocation in the health sector from 6% in 2018 to over 11% presently; recruitment of over six thousand healthcare workers; increased in the ratio of doctors and nurses per patients; supported the development of blood banks; and the distribution of ambulance services across the country.
The Honourable Vice President expressed satisfaction in the results emanating from Government expenditure in the health sector. He also expressed his impression of the development of the Interim Care Unit (ICU) for under-five children that is being utilized by the public nationwide.
Vice President Jalloh alluded the multitude of nurses at the two hospitals because of the additional recruitment of healthcare workers since 2018. He also stated that the reduction in infant mortality from one thousand in 2018 to four hundred and forty-three presently is because of the increase in the establishment of Special Baby Care Unit (SBCUs) in every district now compared to then when SCBUs were only present in regional headquarter towns.
On challenges affecting the hospitals, the Vice President outlined infrastructure such as bedding space, human resource of limited resident doctors, transportation to move healthcare workers from their homes to work places, and medical supplies due to the free healthcare initiative the two hospitals are operating on. He nonetheless, assured the hospitals staff of government commitment to address the challenges identified. He met with the administrative staff of the two hospitals to discuss ways of solving these challenges based on short, medium and long term after concluding tour of the facilities. At Ola During Hospital, Vice President Jalloh toured the pediatric isolation unit, outpatient units, oncology unit, microbiology section, Special Baby Care Unit. At PCMH, he inspected the blood bank, High Dependable Unit meant to treat severe medical cases, ward 2, and the outpatient unit.
Dr Nellie Bell, the Head of Pediatric Unit at Ola During Hospital appreciated the visit of the Vice President, noting that the visit gave them the opportunity to have an open one-on-one conversation with the second gentleman. The Vice President was accompanied by Dr Bell and Dr Abubakar Sesay, the Medical Superintendent in the conducted tour.
