October 26, 2018
By PRO Unit – MOHS
Trucks with the free health care drugs
The Ministry of Health and Sanitation, with support from UK Department for International Development (DFID) has intensified its Free Health Care drug distribution to hospitals and Peripheral Health Units (PHUs) across the country.
The latest to receive the consignment of the free health care commodities was Bonthe district.
Four trucks of drug supply were taken to the district and they were distributed among the United Brethren in Christ (UBC) hospital, Matrru Jong, one for the Bonthe Government hospital and the two trucks for the District Health Management Team for onward distribution to the Peripheral Health Units.
Speaking during the handing over ceremony at the Bonthe District Council hall, Mattru Jong, over the weekend, Chairman, Parliamentary Committee on Health, Hon. Moses Baimba Jorkie, said government under the New Direction has come up with a system called transparency and accountability in the discharged of the free health care commodities.
He informed his audience that since the introduction of the free health care in 2010, drugs have been coming to the districts without the notice of stakeholders, adding that this time round they were calling on all stakeholders including Paramount Chiefs.
Hon. Moses Baimba Jorkie underscored the importance of the free health care drugs distribution in the district and called on all Paramount Chiefs and other stakeholders to claim ownership of the drugs to ensure that the targeted people benefit from it.
Deputising the Chief Medical Officer, Director of Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health, Dr. Santigie Sesay, disclosed that the event has been ongoing in other districts across the country.
He told the gathering that the drugs distribution was to show how committed the Ministry of Health was to ensure that people access good health especially pregnant women, lactating mothers and children under-five.
Dr. Sesay commended health personnel in the district for their good work, and assured of the Ministry’s continued support in effective and efficient health care delivery services in the district.
The Mayor, Bonthe Municipality Council, Layemin Joe Sandi described the drugs distribution exercise as first of its kind in Bonthe district and thanked President Julius Maada Bio for committing in promoting health care service delivery across the country.
He commended the Minister and team of Directors for working tirelessly day and night for translating these policy statements into a working document to show reality on the land.
Mayor Layemin Sandi expressed appreciation to the medical personnel for working under difficult terrains, and appealed for transportation including boats to ply the riverine areas, and assured of the council’s support in monitoring the drugs.
In a similar engagement, the Ministry of Health and Sanitation also handed over five trucks loaded with free health care commodities to the people of Moyamba district, covering the hospital and the Peripheral Health Units in the district.