The District Medical Officer (DMO) for Port Loko District, Mamoud Idriss Kamara, revealed that malaria treatment and tests for all Sierra Leonean citizens is free. He made this in an interview where he admonished medical staff especially in Peripheral Health Units (PHUs) and other catchment areas not to collect money from patients. The DMO said based on a report that indicated that malaria was on a high increase in the country a policy statement from State House has it that all treatment and test for malaria nationwide is free. He said the only thing that is not free for person above the free health care category is the Paracetamol this according to him has prompted government to think toward the re-introduction of ‘Cost Recovery’ at all district health centers. Kamara called on traditional leaders to put byelaws on the use of mosquito bed nets, visits to health centres and discouraging the use of giving money to health workers for malaria treatments. He said they are making it a priority to ensure all local authorities and the people are aware of the fact that Malaria treatment is free stressing that the increased pace of malaria in the country was alarming that government had to intervene with the aspect of giving free treatment to all in order to reduce Malaria to 20% by 2020. The Deputy Chair for Port Loko District Council, Paul Idriss Kamara, said Port Loko has the highest incidence of malaria cases. He assured of council supervision and monitoring role in ensuring the drugs reach targeted beneficiaries on time.
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The deputy chairman pleaded with the District Health Management Team (DHMT) for timely distributions of drugs for all categories, friendly facilities, distribution of bed nets to every member of household and pleaded with locals for the proper use of bed nets. The Paramount Chief for Marampa Chiefdom, Koblo Queen II said as local leaders they will ensure formation of committees from the villages/towns and Chiefdoms development communities that will engage on monthly development meetings to update them on happenings. The PC called on his subjects to make proper use of the ambulance services especially when they are in need of health care as also assured of the introduction of facility Management Committee in all sections of the chiefdom to embark on proactive monitoring and stock taking of community properties and how they are been handling.
MK/27/11/19
By Mohamed Kabba
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