November 24, 2016 By Emmanuel Okyne (Intern)
The District Medical Officer of Bombali District has revealed that free healthcare drugs were inadequate to respond to the current demand from patients visiting peripheral health units across the district.
During an interview with Concord Times, Dr. Brima Osaio Kamara said: “Resources are never enough and so we make do with what we have.”
He stated that 75 percent of the coal chain in the district was functional, seven of which were installed by GAVI in hard-to-reach areas in the district.
Dr. Kamara said the district was understaff while most volunteers were yet to be put on the payroll, although the Ministry of Health and Sanitation was working assiduously to get them pin codes.
“Coal chains are important for the preservation of vaccines so that they could not lose their potency. We have developed an integrated approach with stakeholders to get pregnant women to hospitals,” he said and added that an ambulance service was about to be introduced to benefit the entire district.
Dr. Kamara also spoke about 165 ambulances which were purchased by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, noting that the service would help boost prompt referral system at chiefdom level.
Also, he said the health ministry has instituted a policy to investigate the cause of death of pregnant women and under-five children, a move that could improve on health indicators in the country.
“This could help us to know whether the problem is from the clinics or from the community. Malaria is on the decrease in the district but we are engaged in vigorous bed net campaign at village and chiefdom levels,” Dr. Kamara said.
He commended the British Department for International Development (DFID) for providing funds for the ongoing rehabilitation of sixteen (16) peripheral health units.