As World Health Organization (WHO) declared end to Ebola in the country, stakeholders in Bombali district had expressed appreciation to BRAC for their continued community health sensitization drives.
Alfred Kamara, senior citizen of Ropolon community in Makeni told Awoko Newspaper that despite pronouncement by WHO and Government about end of Ebola in the country there is every need for communities in particular to be reminded of those good health practices being adopted during the fight against Ebola. He said when the fight was tense BRAC Community Health Workers (CHW) were constantly at their doors on sensitization, distribution of soap and disinfectants and making referral to health centres.
Agnes Aminata Ndanema is the Area Health Coordinator for BRAC. While responding at their Masuba Road office in Makeni said as part of their health package in complimenting Government efforts was the establishment of 40 Community Health Workers covering over 50 communities in Bombali. She said as part of their functions they embarked on household sensitization visits and make necessary referrals, distribution of chlorine, Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS), veronica buckets and hand wash to both communities and schools.
Madam Ndanema said they have been around to assist the District Health Management Team (DHMT) during the National Immunization days through sensitization, stating that since they commenced operation in the country in 2008 to date they have strong collaboration with government and other partners and also during the scourge they worked amicably with the DERC and DHMT. She said their community and household intervention is to scale up hand washing practices even after Ebola, pointing out that it is one of the safest hygienic methods one can practice for the protection of diseases.
Mabinty Kargbo is one of the beneficiaries of BRAC household health program. She confirmed to this reporter that if not for the ORS they received from BRAC when the fight against Ebola was at its peak, they would have lost a member of their family. She recalled that her eldest daughter was vomiting and reporting disturbing stomach after eating late, pointing out that they were afraid to go to hospital so what they did was to mix the ORS given to them by BRAC.
She went on, “after we gave the ORS mixture to her for sometimes we realised that her condition started improving and the vomiting stopped, so imagine if we had not received the ORS from BRAC, what will have been my situation,” she asked.
The Northern Region Coordinator for BRAC, Mritunjay Biswas said they were able to fully participate in the country’s health program as a result of interest attached to their Country Representative and Managing Director, Tapan Kumar Karmaker. He said BRAC want to collaborative with government to achieve sustainable development program by reducing child mortality and come out with solutions on how to manage infectious diseases by giving knowledge on how some calories can be gained in our daily food consummations.
By Mohamed Kabba
Monday November 16, 2015
ADVERTISEMENT