The Directorate of Hospital and Laboratory services in the Ministry of Health and Sanitation yesterday received a consignment of laboratory and administrative equipment from the World Health Organisation (WHO).
In a short handing over ceremony held at the HIV reference unit at Lakka Government Hospital, the WHO laboratory team leader, Dr Ekaete Tobin stated that the equipment worth over half a million dollars is in fulfillment of Government’s 24 months post Ebola recovery plan to improve on the Country’s health service delivery, of which clinical and laboratory services is very important, as was evident during the Ebola outbreak.
She noted that WHO has always supported the health sector, which is part of the organisation’s mandate to give both technical and financial support when necessary.
Dr Tobin assured the officials of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation of WHO’s continued support and collaboration to ensure that the health sector becomes more accessible to provide the much needed health care delivery to the public at an affordable cost.
Receiving the assorted items on behalf of Government, the Director of Hospital and Laboratory services, Dr Victor Matt Lebbie commended the relentless effort of WHO to ensure that Government fulfill its mandate and commitment to provide improved health care for its citizens.
He stated that before the Ebola outbreak there was a huge gap in government laboratory services and as a result majority of the public sought the services of private laboratories around the country, which made laboratories in public facilities look worthless because the right equipment to carry out efficient service were not available.
Dr Lebbie said the Ebola outbreak further exposed the already weak health system, but the swift intervention from partners over the period have capacitated both hospital and laboratory services, which has made the public once more gain confidence in the health care delivery in the country.
He said the equipment will further empower clinicians to carry out their work with ease and produce more accurate results, noting that with the new laboratory form that has been developed will help both data clerks, health officials as well as the public to know their status, regarding the type of test carried out, which is another form of keeping track of patient health history.
The hospital and laboratory director furthered that despite the boost more needs to be done to make the wheels of laboratory services in the country turn faster, and this can be achieved through collective efforts and partnership.
All fourteen districts in the country will benefit from the computers and newly designed laboratory forms, while four districts in the North, South, East and Western regions will benefit with below 80 degrees refrigerators, blood analysers, autoclave and x-ray machines.
By Ade Campbell
Tuesday July 12, 2016
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