By Mabinty M. Kamara
Communities in the Eastern districts of Kenema and Kailahun have in an assessment scorecard report expressed concern over the shortage of essential drugs at their Peripheral Health Units (PHU) among others.
This was the outcome of a research that was conducted in May 2020 by the Social Enterprise for Development (SEND) Sierra Leone with support from the Alliance for Reproductive Health Rights (ARHR) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) with the aim of improving health outcomes for women, new-born, children, and adolescents.
The data collection exercise targeted eight Peripheral Health Units (PHUs) in Ngelehun, Hangah of Nongowa Chiefdom, Kpandebu, Gao of Dama Chiefdom all in Kenema district and Bandajuma Kpolihun, Kortuma, Kambama of Jawei Chiefdom and Gbeika in Jahn Chiefdom of Kailahun district.
At the presentation of the report at an interface meeting with stakeholders in Freetown, one of the presenters, Aminata Kamara-Tholley noted that the interviews and focus group discussions held with the community people of the targeted areas revealed lack of adequate supply of drugs, especially for the Free Health care service in the health centers, as one of the major challenges faced. This according to the report has led to them resorting to purchase drugs from peddlers at high cost.
The report also highlighted the lack of hospital equipment, such as stretchers, wheelchairs, scanners, blood testing tools and insufficient beds for women to spend the observation period after childbirth at the health centers.
However, she said the respondents were unable to determine which machines were necessary at a particular health center depending on its size and standard.
Consultation fees and payment for services to health care service providers without receipt, lack of water, electricity, and refrigerator that has affected the storage of vaccines, came out strongly in the report, as well as the problems of toilet facility and accommodation for health workers and nurses’ pin codes.
However, most of the respondents expressed satisfaction over the attitude and behavior of their health care service providers, noting respect for privacy, confidentiality, patience and care when they visit the health centers.
The report also made recommendations on how the issues highlighted can be addressed by the relevant authorities for effective service delivery.
In his response to the findings contained in the report, the Western Area District Medical Officer, Dr. Brima said the findings were not strange as they are perennial problems facing the health care service but assured that they were going to look at the report.
“Somebody said something that is very important about pin coded staff. About 60% of the health workers in PHUs are not on pin code and that is where the problem lies. If I’m not on the payroll and have to be paying transport fare every day from my home to the hospital, who will suffer, at the end of the day, it’s the patient. Because the next thing will be to ask patients to supports their fare and feeding,” he said.
Speaking on the issue of the drugs, he said there are times that the drugs don’t get to the PHUs on time and that some of the drugs supplied at the PHUs are specialized drugs which are not needed there.
The presentation of the report was climaxed by a day’s media training and engagement on improving Women, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Wellbeing (WNCAW) project of which the scorecard assessment is a part. The project according to Dr. Charity Binka, Executive Director, Women Media, and Change, (WOMEC) is implemented in Ghana, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Côte d’Ivoire and is aimed at contributing to improved and equitable policies and interventions in West Africa among vulnerable groups such as women, babies, children and adolescents.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online (12/04/21)
