November 26, 2015 By Alusine Sesay
The Committee on Health and Legislative in Parliament has endorsed the inclusion of the Free Health Care initiative in the reviewed Constitution.
Members of the committee pledged their commitment at a one day consultative meeting organised by Healthy Alert and Save the Children International at the administrative building of Parliament last Friday.
The object of the meeting was for members to support the campaign to sustaining the free health care beyond 2015.
Chairman of the Committee on Health, Hon. Abdulai Daniel Sesay of Constituency 63 in the Tonkolili District, thanked Health Alert and Save the Children for their support to the free healthcare initiative, which according to him has significantly benefited Sierra Leoneans, especially pregnant women, lactating mothers and children under five.
He said lawmakers are in full support of the initiative and that they would ensure the initiative is sustained.
He described the campaign as genuine and timely as it has nothing to do with politics, noting that the support of all parliamentarians and every citizen would be valid to ensure that the free healthcare is sustained beyond 2015 and entrenched in the reviewed constitution.
Executive Director of Health Alert, who also chaired the meeting, Victor Lansana Koroma, thanked Members of Parliament for endorsing the initiative, noting that for the campaign to be a successful, it would need the support of every individual, including Members of Parliament.
Koroma said the responsibility of lawyers was to help sustain and support any policy that is in the public interest.
In a power point presentation, Advocacy and Campaign Manager at Save the Children, Ms. Joanna Tom Kargbo provided reasons why Parliament should support the campaign.
She noted that having monitored the free healthcare initiative since its inception, they have seen the need to sustain it beyond 2015.
Madam Kargbo said some of the achievements of the free healthcare initiative include the abolition of user fees and improvement in the conditions of service for health workers.