As quarter one of the 2019 distribution of free health care drugs commences, the Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr Alpha Tejan Wurie, over the weekend handed over five trucks loaded with free health care drugs to the people of Kono. The handing over took place during a ceremony held at the Kono Government Hospital compound in Kono district.
The five trucks included two for the Kono Government Hospital and the other three for the District Health Management Team (DHMT). These were for onward distribution to the Health Centres and Peripheral Health Units (PHUs).
Handing over the trucks, Dr Alpha Tejan Wurie underscored the importance of the free health care drugs distribution across the country, stating that the items will serve as life-saving interventions for pregnant women, lactating mothers and children under five.
He told the gathering that the people of UK, through DFID, have been supporting the country for many years through free health care drugs. He said, under the New Direction of President Bio, they will ensure that, as a way of supporting the procurement of the free health care drugs, government contributes 10 percent in 2018, another 30 percent in 2019 and 50 percent in 2020 as a way to own what they are giving the people.
Dr Wurie informed his audience that the distribution of the free health care drugs will involve all stakeholders, including the civil society and the police to ensure that there is transparency and accountability in the process and that the drugs reach not only the district hospitals but also the Health Centres and Peripheral Health Units (PHUs) across the country.
The Minister disclosed that they are conducting the exercise in a transparent and accountable manner to ensure that all stakeholders are aware of the distribution, adding that stakeholders should ask authorities to show the list that would go the DHMT for the Paramount Chiefs and community people to track what is going to the PHUs.
He added that the beneficiaries for the free health care drugs are pregnant women, lactating mothers, children under-five, and this time round the disadvantage people and Ebola survivors.
The Chairman Committee on Health in Parliament, Hon. Moses Baimba Jorkie, described the handing over ceremony as an important day for the people of Kono district, but more especially the health workers because with these drugs they will now diagnose and work effectively.
He informed the gathering that previously the drugs were meant for three categories of people, including pregnant women, lactating mothers and children. According to him they have now been extended to disadvantage people and Ebola survivors. He appealed to the stakeholders, including the Paramount Chiefs, civil society groups, the Police, the Military and health workers to ensure that the drugs reach the beneficiaries down to the remote areas.
He said with the introduction of the cost recovery drugs, not too far from the hospital and the health centres, it will help those that are not in the free health care categories to buy the drugs at an affordable cost.
The District Medical Officer, Kono district, Dr Gerald Young, thanked the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, especially the Minister, Dr Alpha Wurie, for the continuous supply of drugs and medical supplies to the hospital, which will make them be proud as health workers.
He informed the gathering that, under his leadership, the Health Ministry will not be one of the best but the best Ministry in Sierra Leone. He added that during the Ebola outbreak, the disease ran after them but with a robust Health Ministry, they are now running after outbreaks, adding that recently they discovered Marburg in fruit eating bats in the district and the team have curtailed the spread of the disease.
He assured the Minister and team that the drugs will be used judiciously for their intended purpose and that the people will benefit from them.