By Mustapha Kamara Jnr
Planning a quality heath care service delivery is one of the World Health Organization (WHO)`s main priorities in the post-Ebola development plan for Sierra Leone, the country director for the UN`s health agency has said.
Dr. Andres Nordstrom told Politico that their plan is to ensure a quality health care service is provided for especially mothers and children. Quality health care service, he noted, is prominent among the four pillars of the government`s post-Ebola development plan, which also include education, private sector development and social protection.
“WHO is committed to work with government, UNICEF and UNFPA to ensure that basic health care service for women and children is available and of good quality,” Nordstrom said in an interview.
Prior to the Ebola outbreak, Sierra Leone was already notorious for its poor record in terms of weak health infrastructure and the consequent poor health care delivery services. It`s little surprise therefore that the country has for a long time been among the worst in terms of maternal and infant mortality rates worldwide, among others.
And rebuilding the healthcare system is crucial, said Nordstrom.
Another priority area for WHO, he added, was ensuring that there was a system in place to detect future outbreaks, like cholera and measles; a system that can quickly respond.
Dr. Andres Nordstrom, a Swede, took over the reins of the WHO country office in Freetown only about two months ago. He succeeded Amshu Bernajie. This makes Dr Nordstrom the fourth WHO country representative in Sierra Leone in just one year – since the hemorrhagic viral disease broke out exactly this time last year under the watch of Dr Jacob Mofunda.
Mofunda, a Zimbabwean, was abruptly replaced following sustained criticism for a lackluster approach towards the epidemic which left the world health agency at the center of constant criticism for responding late to the epidemic.
But WHO has since severally owned up to its mistakes and have vowed to fix the lapses.
Dr. Nordstrom, apparently, has a crucial role to ensure this having taken over at a crucial time of the transition from the epidemic to post epidemic development period. The physician and international health expert, who was deployed from the WHO office in Geneva, said the agency was determined to continue to work with the government and other partners and to provide necessary support until Sierra Leone became an Ebola free nation.
Dr Nordstrom said one of the major factors responsible for the rapid spread of the Ebola virus in the country was because of the existing poor surveillance system which meant officials could not respond to the disease early.
WHO is also working with government and partners to ensure a proper guidance on specific medical issues and other psychosocial plans for Ebola survivors were properly implemented, he said, adding that Ebola survivors have gone through a lot of trauma. He disclosed that already a lot had been done towards addressing health care problems and to also map out specific needs of survivors.
“We have advised government to invest and provide psychosocial and medical support for Ebola survivors” he said.
© Politico 27/05/15
