By Prince J Musa in Kenema
The Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) has continued with its mobile health clinic in Kenema as part of government’s efforts to improve on public health services in the country, the third time such a facility was coming to the district.
The vehicles were stationed at Gombu Layout in Kenema and Talia Togboma.
Assistant Team Lead of the mobile clinic, Edward Sam told Politico that the screening exercises by the medical team covered diseases such as hypertension, malaria, pneumonia, asthma, high blood pressure, and severe acute pain.
Referrals could be made for patients with emergency medical conditions and necessary support provided.
He stated that such health services on wheels ensure the first doses of drugs are given, after diagnosing a patient’s health situation and also link the patient with the government hospital through the medical superintendent or the various district medical officers.
One of the medical officers attached to the mobile clinic, Dr. Sam Baio said they mostly target rural communities and provide treatment after patients have undergone proper screening. He said surgical cases are referred to bigger hospitals.
He said the medical team normally contacts the traditional authorities in consultation with the district medical officers. He encouraged people to show up at any given time the mobile clinic buses come to their communities, noting that there are basic and complex medications that are expensive to access but they could be of help to the people.
He stated that they normally advise people with high blood pressure to continue their medication after providing the initial treatment.
One of the beneficiaries Mohamed Turay, a former teacher commended the government for providing such medication for them, saying he is a patient with eye problem and typhoid and that it has been difficult for him to even buy drugs. He appealed to the ministry of health to continue to provide such medical help to people like them in the villages.
Bendu Sheriff, another beneficiary from the Gombu community said they are happy for the support government has provided as medication has been a challenge especially in the raining season where even to feed the family is a difficult task. She noted that she has been suffering from high blood pressure and other complications where the cost of affording drugs is a big problem to her.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (16/08/24)
