The Southern Regional Office of the Anti Corruption Commission on Thursday engaged health workers, stakeholders and beneficiaries in Moyamba District on the free health care initiative.
Welcoming participants at a workshop in Taiama, Kori Chiefdom, the ACC District Coordinator for Moyamba, Umar Sesay said the meeting was a significant step in measuring the success and challenges of the free health care in his District. He assured that the ACC would ensure corruption became a thing of the past in the District.
ACC Senior Investigation Officer, South, Gibrilla Bangura reiterated that the fight against corruption was now high both on the national agenda and at the international level. He emphasized that health workers and beneficiaries should perceive the free health care initiative as their “baby”. Bangura said that Sierra Leone had witnessed damaging effects of corruption and that participants should ensure it became a thing of the past.
Sheku Kanneh of the Health for All Coalition said his institution was working with all peripheral health units that benefit from the free health care initiative in Moyamba District. He encouraged community stakeholders to provide support to this laudable programme particularly in the area of accommodation for health workers. Kanneh said that Sierra Leone was doing well towards health care service delivery and that his institution would continue to monitor its progress. He said a facility management committee had been set up for all health facilities and encouraged beneficiaries and stakeholders to promote blood donation since the blood bank system in the district was poor. He also urged that the ambulances in the district be in good working order so as to respond to emergencies.
Senior Medical Officer, Njala University Dr A.L. Gahin Sama urged that health service providers should also support private health facilities. He said that beneficiaries within his catchment area had increased and that communities within the university area were making more use of the university hospital. He therefore called for support for the Njala University hospital and cautioned participants not to abuse the free health care initiative.
