Members of Parliament (MPs) on Tuesday deferred a Private Member’s Bill titled, the Community Health Practitioners (CHPs) Bill that calls for the establishment of a body to be known as the CHPs Board to the Pre-legislative stage for proper understanding about what the Bill is about.
The decision came immediately one of the youngest Parliamentarians Hon. Mohamed L. Mansaray, who championed the Bill has delivered the second reading of the Bill.
MPs concluded that they cannot discuss the Bill when the parent Act, 1985 CHPs is not before them and therefore congratulated Hon. Mansaray for his effort and adjourned the Bill to Pre-legislative stage.
While Hon. Mansaray was boldly delivering the Bill, he said CHP means a person who has acquired relevant practical and theoretical knowledge and skills from the school of Community Health and Clinical Studies, Njala University, Bo Campus formerly known as Paramedical School or from an approved community health training institution.
He said in the Bill, Community Health professionals include Community Health Officers (CHOs), Community Health Technicians (CHTs), and Community Health Assistants (CHAs).
Hon. Mansaray said CHO means a Community Health Officer who qualifies with a Bachelors degree in community health or has a Certificate or Higher Diploma in Community Health plus Masters Degree in Community Health related subject adding that CHT means a health practitioner who qualifies with an Higher Diploma while CHA is a community health practitioner who qualifies with an ordinary Diploma.
He said among other things that are in the Act, it contains the establishment of a Board, tenure of Board members, and meeting of Board Members, among others.
On part three, the Bill explains the function of a CHP followed by an administrative provision, financial provision which includes funds of Board, account and audit of Board and annual report.
Hon. Mansaray said Part Six talked about registration and maintenance of register and roll while Part seven is about approval of courses adding that section eight deals with license for CHP which clearly states that no one shall undertake any CH practice unless the person holds a CHPs license issued by the Board.
He concludes that the Bill has eleven Parts which are all relevant to CHP which he is part of and all of the issues in the Bill follows recent trend.
By Emmanuella Kallon
Wednesday November 09, 2016
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