April 12, 2016 By Ibrahim Tarawallie
Medical doctors and a nurse from John Hopkins University in the United States of America have completed a week-long assessment visit to Sierra Leone, aimed at establishing a partnership between the Princes Christian Maternity Hospital (PCMH) and the university.
The partnership, when formalised, will help strengthen the country’s health system and build the human capacity in women’s reproductive health.
Speaking to this medium during an assessment tour of the hospital, Director of John Hopkins HIV Women’s Health Program, Dr. Jean R. Anderson said their visit was facilitated by the hospital’s Senior Medical Superintendent, Dr. Alimamy P. Koroma, adding that the idea of building an academic partnership to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality in Sierra Leone was discussed when she met Dr. Koroma in Accra this year.
According to her, Dr. Koroma presented a case on the deplorable affairs of Sierra Leone’s maternal health and made a case for a partnership between John Hopkins University and PCMH.
As a result of the passionate appeal, she said, the university heeded the cry and decided to send a six-man team to assess where and how the partnership will work.
Professor Anderson explained that the partnership would be built on a comprehensive and sustainable programme to address the most pressing women’s reproductive health problems, in partnership with the government, while at the same time developing the human capacity to address critical reproductive health needs.
She said they would develop a sustainable postgraduate residency training programme in OBGYN to rebuild a cadre of tertiary healthcare professionals in women’s reproductive health.
“In addition, the partnership will improve education and training in women’s health at the pre-service level for nurses and midwives, focusing on cost-effective and evidence-based interventions to reduce maternal and new born mortality and improve infection prevention in the post-Ebola era,” she added.
For his part, Senior Medical Superintendent, Dr. Alimamy P. Koroma expressed thanks and appreciation to the University for accepting his appeal to save the lives of women and newborn babies in Sierra Leone.
He said despite the introduction of free maternal healthcare by government, the level of service delivery for basic and comprehensive obstetric care remains inadequate due to the shrinking number of health providers.
“Sierra Leone’s maternal morbidity and infant mortality rates are nothing to write home about. The partnership is coming at the right time as it will help solve the country’s shortage of obstetricians and gynecologists,” he enthused and disclosed that Sierra Leone has only five obstetricians and gynecologists, with three already retired and two in active service.
The delegation includes Dr. Jean Anderson, Dr. Lucy Koroma, Dr. Richard Seay, Dr. Jenell Fenell, Dr. John Sampson, Dr. Emmanuel Ughia and Nurse Lucy Koroma.