August 17, 2021
By: Dadson A. Musa
The Hon. Vice President of the republic of Sierra Leone, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has on the 12th. August 2021 launched a report on health governance and covid-19 response based on the country. The event which attracted dignitaries from across Africa and the University of Delaware in the United States of America took place at the Bintumani International Conference center at Aberdeen, Freetown. This targeted review report was compiled under the auspices of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM); Sierra Leone chapter and APRM continental office which are headquartered in South Africa. The APRM is an instrument voluntarily acceded to by the Member States of the African Union as an African self-monitoring mechanism.
And as of March 2021, had 41 participating countries on the African continent. The mandate of the APRM is to ensure that the policies and practices of participating states conform to the agreed political, economic and corporate governance values, codes and standards contained in the in the Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance. The APRM is the mutually agreed instrument for self-monitoring by the participating member governments. So after coming to Sierra Leone last year in November on a week-long fact finding and assessment of how the government kept the corona virus disease at bay impressively, they returned with high powered delegation to launch a report that will draw member states and the world at large to the good work done by the Bio government. Corona virus has been deadly in its form and has killed millions across the world. But Sierra Leone became a shining light and example in the fight against this deadly disease. As there have been fewer cases of just over 150 deaths associated to corona.
Giving an overview of the event, the Minister of Political and Public Affairs and the Focal Person for APRM in Sierra Leone, Foday Yumkella told the gathering that it is meant to subject our governance system to consensual and mutual scrutiny especially in the health sector.
The report has been as the outcome of interactive discussions with various stakeholders and institutions in Sierra Leone. And that the scrutiny in the health sector ‘will go a long way in shaping other governance structures in the country.
And he hopes this comprehensive report is going to impact positively on the health system of Sierra Leone. Mrs. Janet Mabwa, senior coordinator of targeted review at the secretariat speaking on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer of APRM Continental Secretariat, Eddy Maloka this report has been ‘put together at a difficult time in the year of the pandemic’. And that the report will help to fine tune our early warning systems.
Furthering, the APRM panel member in charge of Sierra Leone, Ambassador Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika revealed that the implementation of targeted review started since 2019.
That APRM has been independent, credible and legitimate. She lamented the vaccine inequality as Africa lags behind dangerously. As it stands 0.9% of have been received by low income countries while a little over 46% have been received by high income countries. And the disease is dangerously contagious. On his part, the Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Austin Demby told the gathering that the government intends for ‘health services to be accessible by citizens across the country.
And that president Bio has been very supportive of this move. The minister went on that the digitalization of the health sector has helped achieve much success in the fight against covid-19. And vaccines for Ebola, Marburg and corona are going to be made available to people of Sierra Leone. To sustain this process there has to coordination among key stakeholders.
In his official launch of the review report, the vice president, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh told the crowd that ‘leadership has been key in putting the report together.
And that our Ebola fight experience gave us the edge in keeping corona virus at bay. Covid-19 tested the resilience of our health system but we made it through’.
According to the vice president there are now laboratories and health care facilities that can meet the test of time.
VP Juldeh Jalloh entreated for the scaling up of advocacy for quick economic recovery post-pandemic.