By Mohamed Vandi in Kenema
The Community Health Officer in charge of the pediatric ward of the Kenema government hospital, Luseni Rogers says that for the timely intervention of the hospital matron, fire would have destroyed the ward and threatened the whole hospital.
Rogers said that it was the matron who rushed to the scene and put the main electricity switch off just as the cables began to spark around 6:28 pm.
He said the building was under constant threat of fire because this was not the first time such an incident had happened. "This fire threat has occurred several times and each time we call on officials of the BKPS to come to our aid. The one yesterday would have been disastrous, but thank God we were able to manage the situation” he said, adding that several appeals had been made to correct the situation, but to no avail.
Rogers disclosed that the Minister of Health and Sanitation was informed of the problems affecting the ward including congestion, poor electrification, poor ventilation, leaky roof and insufficient beds. He said they had only received some beds which had not solved the problem of two children per bed situation.
Hawa Sesay who had her baby in the ward said the condition of the hospital was no longer favorable for their children. She said the authorities should take immediate action otherwise most people would vacate the ward for fear of a fire outbreak
Deputy Minister, Abubakar Fofana admitted to Politico in Kenema that the Pediatric Ward of the Hospital was over crowded. “I have gone to the hospital, there are some major improvements, new structures, but also I saw the Pediatric Ward overcrowded. Something needs to be done about it…” the Minister said.
Fofana promised to include the problems affecting the hospital in his report to be forwarded to the Minister of Health and Sanitation.
