By: Mohamed M. Sesay
In order to address the multiple challenges within the Health Sector, a team from the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, has on Thursday the 22nd of September 2022, Presented slightly Ninety-Nine Billion Leones in the old note (Le 99,000,000,000) as part of their 2023 Annual Budget to the Ministry of Finance.
The Ministry of Finance provided a budget ceiling for recurrent expenditure of sixty-four billion in the old note but the Ministry of Health and Sanitation presented in excess ceiling of slightly over thirty-four billion Leones bringing it slightly over ninety-nine billion Leones.
In an interview after presenting the budget to the Ministry of Finance, Dr. Mohamed Alex Vandi, Director of Health Security and Emergencies attached to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, underscored the importance of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation adding that, the budget presented to the Ministry of Finance is a gender sensitive budget. He added that the Ministry of Health and Sanitation is in its vim and vigor to change the narrative accorded to Sierra Leone as the worst country for pregnant women, child birth due to the astronomical maternal and infant mortality rate.
Dr. Vandi continued that the Ministry intends to reduce the Maternal Mortality and the Infant Mortality from seven hundred and seventeen per one thousand life birth, to less than three hundred in three years. “So therefore, the entire budget we presented is in line with that so that we can be able to achieve all of those. For us to target Maternal Mortality will also help improve on the overall healthcare delivery services across the country. So that is the more reason we presented this budget to the Ministry of Finance”, he said.
He furthered that the ministry is spending colossal sum on overseas medical treatment for Sierra Leoneans which has been affecting the approved budget for the Ministry.
He disclosed that for this year alone, the Ministry has spent six billion in the old Leones aiding citizens to seek medical treatment overseas.
Dr. Vandy also intimated that the Ministry of health and Sanitation is equally keen to addressing large scale storage facility of medical drugs at Kerri Town. He noted that government is spending huge sum of money on private storage facilities.
He concluded by pleading to the Ministry of Finance to support such storage facility project for the Ministry of Health and Sanitation.
In his response to the budget presented, Samuel E.B Momoh, the Senior Deputy Financial Secretary also recognized the significant role of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation in terms of wellbeing of citizens. He considered the budget as a very reasonable one and therefore, together with Civil Society Activists, unanimously proposed that the 2023 annual budget for the Ministry of Health and Sanitation be considered in the affirmation.
