Members of Parliament on Thursday 4th February 2021 unanimously approved a total of $72.48m health related projects aimed at improving and reducing infant mortality, maternal and morbidity rates in Bo, Moyamba, Karene and Pujehun.
Presenting the agreements to the House for possible ratification, the Deputy Minister of Finance, Patricia Laverley, maintained that the first component of the projects seeks to conduct regular preventive maintenance of cold equipment through procuring solar refrigerator to store vaccines for the four districts.
She maintained that the second component would include supporting health system through strengthening health management information systems as they will finance the training M&E, IT Officers and also trains hundreds of health care workers in harmonising their reporting points at the national level.
The Deputy Finance Minister disclosed that the project agreements would focus on the rehabilitation of twelve health centers, equipping three hospitals, maintenance of staff quarters of health workers, maintenance of the fistula center in Bo Government Hospital and training facilities for Nurses.
Starting the debate Hon. Neneh Lebbie, disclosed that most of the issues reported on the news related to women crying for health care facilities in the various communities as most of those women lost their lives due to lack of appropriate health facilities.
She called on Members of Parliament within the four beneficial districts to pay great attention to the projects to ensure they are properly done despite the fact that in most cases MPs are left out of the process, but however urged the Deputy Finance Minister to make sure MPs are captured.
Hon. Zainab Kathrine Tarawallie, stated that despite women being 51 percent of the country’s population yet they suffered the most as there are about 20 percent of those women that are single parents that take care of their home.
She informed the House that women are still facing problems with the free health care across the countries which according to her will be minimised by these agreements, expressing appreciation to the Parliamentary Leadership for supporting women activities, assuring that they will continue to support the men in achieving their goals towards nation building
According to Hon. Emilia Loloh Tongi, probably the Deputy Minister listened to her cry about a lady who lost her life while giving birth, stating that the agreement will support women bring healthy children across the country.
Hon Emilia maintained that it is over 60 years without any health facility in Ward one in Kailahun district, pleading with the Deputy Minister for her to see how best such project can be extended to other remote communities.
Chairman of the Health Committee, Hon Moses B. Jorkie, said it no secret that the country continue to recognise high maternal mortality rate, expressing appreciation that the project seeks to target Karene district that records high maternal mortality rate.
He maintained that the issue relating to fistula would also be addressed together with training opportunities for the health professionals in those parts of the country, pleading with the Health Committee members to ensure they join in supervising the project.
Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Chernor Maju Bah, maintained that considering the importance of women and girls he will support the ratification of the agreement without wasting time as it seeks to address issues relating to women and girls.
The Acting Leader of Government Business called on the Chairman of the Health Committee to ensure they monitor all the primary health care facilities to ensure all what is in the agreement are followed to the fullest for the benefit of the women and girls across the country.
The following agreements were ratified by Parliament;
• Framework Agreement (Installment Sole Financing) Between the Republic of Sierra Leone and Islamic Development Bank, Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health Strengthening Project.
• Agency Agreement (Installment Sole Financing) Between Republic of Sierra Leone and the Islamic Development Bank, Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health Strengthening Project and
• Technical Assistance Grant Agreement Between the Republic of Sierra Leone and Islamic Development Bank, Regarding the Maternal Neonatal and Child Health Strengthening Project.
AM/5/2/2021
By alhajim.kamara@awokonewspaper.sl