A Non Governmental Organization Global Fund in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, District Health Management Team (DHMT) and the Pharmacy Board in Kenema city have destroyed drugs worth US$ 580,000 The burning of the drugs took place at the compound of the government hospital along Combema road in Kenema city.
Speaking to the press at the burning site the Malaria Focal Person for Kenema district Janet Hindowa disclosed that the drugs were given to the National Malaria Control Program of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation by the Global Fund.
She said the drugs facimon kits for malaria were two to six months to expiration dates when they received it and were distributed to all Peripheral Health Units (PHUs) in Kailahun and Kenema districts. She also stated that the drugs have been withdrawn from all peripheral health units (PHUs) in the two districts.
The health Information Manager Alfred G.Gbla told the press that the destruction exercises is nationwide. The total cost of Global fund drugs destroyed country wide is $580.000 dollars.
He said the drugs have been replaced by Global fund which according to the report have been distributed to all PHUs in the districts. The drugs destroyed were supposed to be used for two years but were received late last year with the espiration date too close.
The District Health Sister Kenema Sr. Hawa Daramy said the aim of the District Health Management Team (DHMT) is to see a healthy community therefore the health of the people of the district is their concern. She said an expired drug is a poison and it will not be allow it to be circulated in any community.
She disclosed that the DHMT has trained community based providers at village levels for villages that are far away from health centers within the districts, with the aim that every body in the district has access to the free malaria treatment. She called on all to visit their health centers and their community base providers for their malaria treatment.
She said in ensuring that the drugs reach every body at all levels they have trained all the Traditional Birth Attendance (TBAs) in the two districts to ensure that all pregnant women get access to the drug and they have also given refresher training to all the nurses in the districts in administering the drugs to their patients.
In his contribution the Data Manager Malaria Control Programme for Global Fund John Seppeh called on the public to make use of the drugs.
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