By Ragan M. Conteh
Members of the Parliamentary subcommittee on Health and Sanitation headed by Hon. Jokie has yesterday settled an impasse between the management and staff of the Nixon Memorial in Segbewma, Eastern Sierra Leone that has resulted to a strike action by the workers.
The settlement came as a result of a concern raised by the Hon. Bernadette Wuyata Songa of Constituency 008,East of Sierra Leone.
The MP noted that ,one of the main challenges faced by the hospital is the refusal by the hospital authorities to accept doctors sent by Government to the Nixon Memorial Hospital.
She revealed that, Government secured funding from the World Bank for the rehabilitation of three hospitals in Sierra Leone including the Nixon and Rokupa hospitals but that the management of the Nixon hospital had also denied the opportunity.
Hon. Songa revealed that, the Management of Nixon hospital had prevented the World Bank contractors from entering the hospital despite her tireless efforts to see that the hospital is improved.
She intimated that, she has also worked collaboratively with staff of the hospital especially nurses to advocate for new pin codes from the Ministry of Health and Sanitation.
Consequent upon these huge concern,from the Hon MP, the parliamentary subcommittee on Wednesday invited the Board Members of Nixon Memorial Hospital including the Former Leader and Chairman of the Sierra Leone Peoples Party, John Oponjo Benjamin, Dr. Sama Banya, Bishop Mark Gobeh and the head of the striking workers Mr. Lansana.
The rationale was to ensure that, all the active players in the Nixon hospital are brought on board a round table to settle the dispute for the good of the people in that part of the country.
The committee had discussed several issues including the welfare of staff, improvement of the hospital, the relationship between the community and the hospital many other challenging issues that have got the tendency to destabilize the operations of the Hospital.
Chairman of Committee, Hon. Jokie noted that, the essence of the meeting at Parliament was to ensure that, the health concerns of the people of Segbewema are speedily addressed.
Bishop Gobeh expressed thanks and appreciation to the government of Sierra Leone especially President Bio for partnering with Nixon Memorial Hospital for improving the health services of not only the people of Kailahun District but Sierra Leone as a whole.
He added that,the Hospital and the Ministry of Health has prepared an MoU towards the effective management of the hospital.
He commended Government for supporting the hospital especially so when external funding to the hospital has been curtailed.The hospital according to him has produced several health workers that are currently serving various health services in the country.
He concluded that because of limited resources in the hospital, 32 of its nurses have been redundant.
The discussions were also able to identify that the administration had allegedly failed to honour the payments of NASSIT and other benefit accrued over the years.
The MPs have resolved to constitute a committee that will look into the issues raised around the management of the Nixon Memorial in Segbewema with a view to address them with the relevant authorities.