By Alpha Abu
The first-ever mobile health clinic to be initiated by a government in Sierra Leone had its official maiden port of call in the two Peninsula settlements of York and Tombo on Monday 7th March 2021.
President Julius Maada Bio led the formal launching first in York, an event attended by the local council and community heads, the Chinese Ambassador, senior government and health officials, and residents of York. Similar protocols were reciprocated in the fishing community of Tombo.
Four buses equipped with very advanced medical diagnostic machines provided by the Chinese Government were in full display at the ceremony, to mark the commencement of efforts by the government to provide medical care for especially people in rural communities across the country. The machines fitted inside the buses include Electrocardiogram and those for Blood screening and Eye tests.
Health workers say the blood testing machine would enable them to identify urinary tract infections, diabetes, and other diseases, whilst the eye machine would be able to record complicated eye-related problems.
They also pointed out that the electrocardiogram would enable persons to undergo tests for heart complications. The different compartments on the buses address various other health concerns and people with diagnosed ailments would be given immediate medical treatment on the buses, the health workers say. They stated that all the medical machines are very advanced with some hardly seen in hospitals.
President Bio told the gathering about his government’s emphasis on improving the wellbeing of the people and said the mobile clinic would contribute in that direction. He said the government has been restructuring the health sector with the assistance of partners around the world, and mentioned the extensive rehabilitation and refurbishing of healthcare facilities across the country.
According to the president, the ministry of health will ensure the mobile clinic reaches all 193 chiefdom headquarters across the country to treat a projected 1 million people within a four-month period. He highlighted the significant results that have been achieved in mitigating related deaths and the spread of HIV/AIDS and malaria. He used the occasion to highlight his government’s premium on the education of young people and its desire for more girl-child enrolment in schools.
The Headman of York Leslie Pratt expressed gratitude to President Bio for considering his community as the first place for the introduction of the mobile clinic. He said it was a historic moment for York village for which they are grateful.
Health and Sanitation Minister, Dr. Austin Demby said the clinic was a manifestation of the government’s commitment to improved health service delivery and taking it to remote areas of the country. He also spoke of the government’s plans to build more hospitals and improve on existing ones in various parts of the country.
In his statement the Chairman of the Western Rural Council, Kasho Holland Cole thanked President Bio for what he said was a laudable initiative. He said he was looking forward to more hospitals in the western rural area.
Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Hu Zhangliang said the mobile clinic was the furtherance of the close cooperation between the governments of the two countries which he said has lasted for over 50 years. He praised the government of Sierra Leone for its development programmes and assured the Chinese government’s support to the country.
A source at the ministry of health told Politico the buses are back at the depot as officials plan for the full operation of the mobile clinic that is set to start in the coming weeks. It’s also been reported that one cycle of field operation is to last for two weeks, after which the vehicles are to retire, for the planning of the next phase of the clinic.
People living in far-flung and harder-to-reach areas of Sierra Leone, struggle in accessing medical care. The seriousness of the inaccessibility to healthcare has been proven of late on social media with video footage of mostly children with untreated horrendous and infested injuries languishing in villages.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (09/03/22)
