By: Mohamed Sahr
Enhancing the effectiveness of mobile clinic outreach services across the country, Ministry of Health has received twenty thousand United States Dollars ($20,000) from the Peoples’ Republic of China as a commitment to Sierra Leone’s bilateral relationships on Friday 1st September, 2023 at Youyi Building in Freetown.
Dr. Jalikatu Mustapha, Deputy Minister two of Ministry of Health said the remarkable gesture came in as a result of the tremendous works the Ministry had undergone particularly in terms of providing affordable universal health coverage for pregnant women, children, adults and everybody; adding that they would continue to build on those successful strides as well learn from other countries like China.
She expressed sincere appreciation to the Ambassador of China for the donation and hoped that Sierra Leone and China relations would continue to make progress on a silver platter. “Let us continue hard enough so that we will develop on the gains that we have made and expand the much needed services,” Dr. Mustapha urged.
His Excellency Ambassador Wang Qing, Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone said the gifts served as result of the immeasurable bilateral relations Sierra Leone and China had kept for over 52 years, and the concern from His Excellency President Xi Jinping to the Government of Sierra Leone. He mentioned that health and medical cooperation happened to be the immediate facilities every country could proud of which Sierra Leone was not an exception.
“In the last five decades, Sierra Leone has treated over 800,000 patients, performed more than 100,000 operations and treated over 5,000 local medical staff,” Ambassador Qing said.
He believed that China’s closer cooperation in health and medical sector including the Mobile Clinics project would consolidate their bond with Sierra Leone and help to achieve the Five Big Game Changers of President Bio.
Ambassador Qing furthered that their support to Sierra Leone especially improving health and medical cooperation would yield more fruitful results and benefits the people of Sierra Leone.
Dr. Sartie Kenneh, Chief Medical Officer of Ministry of Health felt grateful to the Chinese Government for providing four mobile clinic buses and the whooping amount of money to Sierra Leone’s health sector. He affirmed that they would ensure to provide quality healthcare services to far-reached places in Sierra Leone.
Dr. Kenneh said in recent times there were 50% attendance of the male in the mobile clinics. “This gives a lifeline to our children,” Dr. Kenneh revealed.
Dr. Yeabu Kargbo, Medical Superintendent for Hospitals on Wheels attached at the Ministry of Health said the four buses donated by the Chinese Government would provide equal access, quality and affordable healthcare in the country. She emphasized that over 37, 000 Sierra Leoneans received free healthcare across the country.
Dr. Kargbo said they would continue to work tirelessly to save the lives of many Sierra Leoneans with the mobile clinic services.
