Minister of Health and Sanitation Alpha Tejan Wurie has assured healthcare workers in the eastern regional headquarter city of Kenema that government is committed to providing more job opportunities and pin codes for nurses and other healthcare practitioners in the country. The Minster of Health was speaking during the handing over ceremony of eight trucks loaded with free drugs, health commodities, 100 delivery beds for pregnant women, personal protective equipment (PPEs) for COVID-19 response, among other items.
Minister Wurie said that government has provided allowances for health workers across the country as a strategy to motivate them carry out their responsibilities serving humanity, adding government is currently working on providing employment for an additional 4,000 health workers at different levels including community health nurses, state registered nurses and midwifery among others. He reminded them of the measures his ministry has put in place aimed at government providing uniforms for all health workers nationwide, and urged community stakeholders including the Paramount Chiefs, civil society, local councils and other members of the public to be vigilant in monitoring all donated items to the health sector in their respective localities, adding that despite the work health authorities do, the drugs and equipment from government and partners to the sector are meant for the community.
The Managing Director of the National Medical Supplies Agency, Laurence Sandy, said his institution is charged with the responsibility of purchasing, storing and distribution of all health commodities in the country.
He reminded them that a few months ago his team was in Kenema District handing out free drugs including for HIV and tuberculosis to the hospital engaging only a few stakeholders. Sandy said he appreciated the stakeholder turnout to receive the donations, which he said was in the interest of transparency and accountability for public funds. Nurse Aminata Brima said she had been assisting in the hospital for more than four years without a pin code, but expressed confidence with high faith in God that she will be among the first set of the 4,000 to receive pin codes.
She thanked government and hopes the Minister’s promise will come to pass in the shortest possible time.
By Mohamed Kabba