By Kadrie Koroma
Continuing in the equipment of health care providers, more Nurses and Midwives from Kailahun, Kenema, Pujehun, Bo, Moyamba, Mattru Jong and Bonthe have commenced a five-day training on “Making Pregnancy Safer” Maternal Health Updates from Monday July 2 to Friday July 6, 2018 at the John Bosco hall, Manjama in Bo, Southern Sierra Leone.
The training was organized by the Commonwealth Nurses and Midwives Federation (CNMF) in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Nurses Association (SLNA).
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Deputy Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Mary Fullah disclosed that there is a robust reform taking place in the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and the Directorate of Nursing and Midwifery Services is no exception.
She informed her audience that they have developed the Nursing and Midwifery Policy and several guidelines to provide quality nursing and midwifery services to the nation.
Matron Mary Fullah thanked the Commonwealth Nurses and Midwives Federation (CNMF) for their support to Sierra Leone over the years, adding that as a country they are happy for the support especially in building the capacity of nurses and midwives who are the front line workers of the Ministry.
She commended the executive of the Sierra Leone Nurses Association (SLNA) for organizing such an educative training, and for their continuous support to the Directorate of the Nurses and Midwifery Services.
She reminded participants about their roles in service delivery and that the Ministry will continue on the spot checks to monitor nurses and midwives, adding that they should always remember that they are civil servants and should work within the codes of the service.
Matron Fullah assured all that the Directorate will continue to work in making sure that their challenges are addressed accordingly, and encouraged them to share their knowledge and skills gained in training with colleagues in their various health facilities.
The Education Consultant, Commonwealth Nurses and Midwives Federation, Minnesha Yasmine said her coming to Sierra Leone is to impact knowledge by giving nurses and midwives updates on the current trends of care provision so that they can work as a team.
The President of the Sierra Leone Nurses Association (SLNA) Senesie Margao said access to health care is a fundamental human right, nurses and midwives are central to ensuring that access within the health care settings is paramount.
He expressed thanks and appreciation to the Commonwealth Nurses and Midwives Federation for their continuous support to Sierra Leone in ensuring that nurses and midwives get the basic training in making pregnancy safer, and appealed to participants to make good use of the training.
The Chairman for the opening ceremony and Deputy Matron of the Pujehun Government Hospital, Matron Fatmata Kamara admonished participants to concentrate and make meaningful contributions in the training as they were selected not by chance but by choice.