On July 8, 2024, the Honorable Minister of Health, Dr. Austin Demby, and the Executive Director of Health Alert Sierra Leone, Victor Lansana Koroma, graced the Good Morning Salone show on 98.1FM Radio Democracy. The discussion centered on assessing the health sector for effective delivery of healthcare services, highlighting the remarkable strides and persistent challenges faced by Sierra Leone.
Advocacy and Health Financing
Victor Lansana Koroma underscored Health Alert’s unwavering commitment since its inception in 2009 to advocate for the rights of women, children, pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children under five. He emphasized that health financing remains critical, with budget advocacy for investment in the health sector being a top priority. Despite Sierra Leone’s progress, meeting the Abuja Declaration of allocating 15% of GDP towards health is an ongoing challenge.
Koroma highlighted significant advancements but also noted persistent issues such as stockouts in many health facilities and the inefficiency of referral services, particularly ambulance services. In some areas, patients are charged up to NLe700 for transportation from Bonthe to Bo hospital, exacerbating the plight of those already in deprived conditions. He also raised concerns about the large number of volunteer healthcare workers, urging the minister to clarify the pin-coding process as it burdens patients with costs they shouldn’t bear.
Minister of Health’s Response
Dr. Austin Demby expressed his appreciation for the collaborative efforts in improving health services. He elaborated on the life stage approach used to ensure every child survives and thrives, growing into a productive citizen. He mentioned the mobile clinic buses, supported by the Chinese Government, which have been instrumental in diagnosing conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes early. However, he noted the high operational costs of these clinics, amounting to $25,000 per outing, and called for more partners to support this initiative.
Launch of FPYouthConnect Initiative
A significant milestone was the launch of the Family Planning Keke initiative (FPYouthConnect) on July 2, 2024, jointly by Health Alert and the Ministry of Health. This initiative, supported by USAID Momentum, emerged from the 2022 National Youth and Adolescent Family Planning & Sexual Reproductive Health Conference. The innovative idea from the Kenema team to use tricycles (keke) to disseminate family planning and sexual reproductive health information won accolades and was implemented to reach adolescents and youth in hard-to-reach communities.
The FPYouthConnect initiative addresses the myths and misinformation surrounding family planning, a major driver of teenage pregnancies. The Family Planning Keke will visit schools, colleges, universities, and major market locations in Kenema, providing accurate information and making necessary referrals.
Introduction of Kombra App (PreStrack)
The launch event also featured the unveiling of the Kombra App (PreStrack), a Pregnancy Registration and Service Tracker Application. This innovative tool will enable healthcare providers to register, track, and monitor every pregnancy, significantly reducing maternal mortality and improving health outcomes.
A Call for Continued Support
The collaborative efforts of Health Alert, the Ministry of Health, and various partners underscore the importance of sustained support for these initiatives. As Victor Lansana Koroma aptly noted, achieving substantial progress in health services delivery requires continuous investment and collective action.
Stay tuned for more updates on these groundbreaking initiatives that are set to transform the healthcare landscape in Sierra Leone. Together, we can create a future where every young person has access to the reproductive health services they need, and no woman has to lose her life giving birth.
