By Prince J Musa in Kenema
The District Medical Officer (DMO) Kenema Dr. Donald Samuel Grant has on 5th May 2021 presented the award given to him by Health Reporters Network Sierra Leone as best DMO.
At a gathering of health workers and other stakeholders, Dr. Grant thanked the Network for the award which he said was for all health workers within the 232 Peripheral Health Units (PHUs), saying it happened because of the cooperation and collaboration among the health workers and the support accorded to him as a district medical officer. ’’This award is in my name but hadn’t it been the support you gave me, I wouldn’t have been given this award”, he said.
He said the award has sent a strong message across the country that the health workers in Kenema district together with the local councils and the traditional leaders are working closely to push the health system forward. He encouraged the health workers to do more for the people especially the children and pregnant women.
Dr. Grant stated that the achievement made as DMO was due to the relentless support of other staff and his leadership skills in working with all the health care practitioners in Kenema district and said the award clearly demonstrates that with collective efforts and dedication to work as medics, they will surmount a lot of difficulties despite the enormous challenges on the ground.
He said for the district to get a healthy population its incumbent on all health workers to accept the fact that money is not all in saving life and should instead give more priority to their job.
He encouraged the health workers from various PHUs to continue the hard work in putting the image of the district on the map in terms of health service delivery and affirmed his absolute commitment and support in providing good leadership expected of him to promote and improve the health system within the district.
Dr. Grant commended both the city and the district councils and all the partners in the health care system especially IRC, WHH among others for their support to the district health management team in serving humanity and appealed to them to strengthen their efforts in helping the people of Kenema district.
The Chairman Kenema district council Mohamed Amodu Sesay said as a district they were proud over the award given to the DMO. “Dr. Grant’s award was well deserved due to his working relationship and manner of addressing issues on health”, he said. He maintained that the councils appreciate and are pleased with all the health transformation taking place within the district. Sesay stated that the DHMT has been working with the councils in promoting health activities as the people count a lot to them saying that this is part of development the resource of a country.
He commended the DHMT and those in charge at the various PHUs in the district for the good service delivery and assured the Kenema district council of their continued support and commitment to the DHMT in order to attain sustainable health care service in the district.
He said Kenema district can now boast of another standard hospital which is at Panguma and that since the transformation of the entity from a missionary to a government hospital a lot of improvement has taken place with the provision of their own medical doctor and full staff all of which was actualized through the visionary leadership of the district medical officer.
He admonished the team to continue the humanitarian service saying health workers can only be paid by God for their service to mankind.
The District Health sister I Kenema Vincent Marvel described the award as a big praise to all the health workers in Kenema district. She said it is another motivation assignment given them to increase their level of commitment.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online 07/05/21
