By Prince J Musa in Kenema
An International Medical Organization operating in Kenema, Eastern Sierra Leone, Medicines Sans Frontiers (MSF) has held its first Academy Graduation for the first group of 29 Community Health Officers (CHOs).
The HealthCare Graduation Ceremony which brought together Senior Clinical Officers and Medical Personnel from the Ministry of Health and Sanitation among others was held at the MSF training Centre, Hangha in Kenema District on the 27th of July, 2023.
In his statement, the CHO of Clinicals, Mustapha Mohamed said the graduation is another achievement that will boost health care service for the benefit of the community and the nation as a whole. He said that the 29 health care officers (CHOs) were tailored to meet the unique needs of the communities which they shall be providing health care service for.
‘’MSF is here to provide humanitarian healthcare services to the vulnerable communities and to complement government efforts in health services,’’ he said.
He further said that MSF has over the period created the enabling connections between vulnerable populations and healthcare providers to interface so that the healthcare providers will be able to identify some of the illnesses and other contributing factors in the community.
The MSF Academy Healthcare Representative, Ann Weyer noted that the MSF Academy implement medical and paramedical training opportunities that directly benefit its staff.
He said that over 90 percent of MSF Staff are locally recruited in the areas of operations as ways to ensure efficiency and quality healthcare services for their patients, quoting International best standards and protocols of medications.
She affirmed that the academy is an intersectional training initiative designed to improve the quality of healthcare providers as stated in their projects and to strengthen the local health systems as part of building the human resource development in the medical field.
MSF Project Coordinator, Daniela C. Batista informed the gathering that the academy offers continuous professional development in several countries across sub-Sahara Africa through on-the-job training, theoretical, and practical instruction, and mentoring by using different methodologies.
The Chief CHO, Richard Kimbay underscored the roles and responsibilities of CHOs on how they should respond to medical and health problems when they come across patients. He said CHOs should always endeavor to take their client’s history, investigations, and diagnosis, treat, administer, and make referrals appropriately, maintaining impartiality and confidentiality.
In his keynote address, the District Medical Officer, Dr Donald Samuel Grant applauded MSF as one of the strong and reliable health partners for their unflinching support in working with the District Health Management Team in mitigating some of the health challenges in the sector.
He further stated that the two years intensive training of the community healthcare staff is another milestone in the health sector and therefore encouraged the graduands to maintain professionalism in serving humanity.
He called on the graduands to keep the pace and extend their support to other Peripheral Health Units (PHUs) within Kenema district so that some of the health problems will be reduced.
One of the graduands, David Ibrahim Baion thanked MSF Management for providing them the available opportunity in acquiring more medical skills that will enhance their jobs professionally. He called on his colleagues to put into practice what they have learned during the two years of intensive learning process.
The Award of Certificates to Graduands climaxed the event.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (09/08/23)
