Plans are underway to transform the Mattru Jong hospital to a highly effective tertiary and referral hospital. This will be made possible through the Global Healing, Architecture for Humanity and International Rotary Groups.
Yesterday a joint Mission comprising of three components Global Healing, Architecture For Humanity and International Rotary Groups paid a visit to President Ernest Bai Koroma at State House to accustom him on a project feasibility mission.
The joint mission is guest of the first lady Mrs Sia Nyama Koroma through her Women Initiative for Safer Health (WISH) project.
Briefing the President, Head of Operations and Programme in the Office of the First Lady, Sahr Abraham Grass- Sesay said the group wants to see how they can help the President and the country in his Agenda for Change. He added that the Group will visit Bo, Mattru Jong and the Connaught and PCMH hospitals for needs assessment and possible collaboration.
According to him the focus is to develop healthcare services at both high level of tertiary referral care and primary community-based levels in the Southern Province. Sesay noted that for a pilot start the team will conduct site visits and Needs Assessment to ascertain the level of the medical support needed to leverage in anD to revive the medical services delivery system in the country with particular focus on the Mattru Jong Area.
In his statement President of Global Healing Luke Ifland said they will identify local needs medically, as its primary objective is to conduct needs assessment survey to ascertain the current status and needs related to blood banking development and training services.
Luke Ifland said his organization would evaluate lab capacities, medical equipment issues and related training across these fields. In addition they would determine the level of assistance they would render to the Mattru Jong Hospital with the intent to upgrade existing facility thereby transforming the hospital to a highly effective tertiary care and referral hospital. He noted that they are committed to work in Sierra Leone for a decade or more, providing assistance with training and extending healthcare services to the Sherbro Island.
Dr Kathleel Marie West of Architecture for Humanity told the President that she is representing her organization to do a site assessment for the development of a Birth Waiting Home.
Her organization she said is charged to design and construct the center; and working locally with community members, stakeholders and partners to ensure that the buildings fit into the local context and regulations as followed. Construction she said will be done by local labor and that a key component to the design process, community outreach will inspire the design team and create ownership of the center within the neighborhood throughout the country.
Dr West stated that they will visit Njala University to explore and to understudy current healthcare training program with the aim scaling- up manpower development and sustainable building efforts in Mattru by integrating solar systems construction and maintenance, green building, grey- water management and green medical waste disposal. Midwifery and nursing training programs would be encouraged in order to effectively address rural healthcare services.
Mr Lee Christian Sorensen representing the International Rotary Community said they are here to lend necessary support to Sierra Leone Free Health Care Initiative launched by the President. He said he would explore existing interests and extend an outreach support from International Rotary Groups in the US and Canada with the aim of galvanizing their multi- pronged support for Sierra Leone’s health care sector.
In response President Koroma welcomed and thanked them for their good intention on behalf of the people of Sierra Leone.
He noted that the initiative is timely and appropriate for the country. He accepted that the challenges are enormous but that together they can be addressed. He thanked Rotary International for their support.
President Koroma informed them that the Free Health Care Initiative is moving slowly forward positively and thanked them for considering Mattru Jong hospital as there is a lot of work there to be done.
The President said he is committed and ready to partner with the joint team to lift Sierra Leone up. He promised government full support at all times.
The team also met with the First Lady at her Presidential Lodge office.
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