January 22, 2021
By: Mohamed Kargbo
Freetown Friday 22nd 2021: President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has turned the sod for the construction of 150 beds ultra-modern general hospital at Kerry Town, Western Rural District.
“EASI Trading Limited will build a 150-bed general Hospital that will provide diagnostic imaging services such as Endoscopy, X-Ray, MRI and CT scan,” the President says.
The President has disclosed that the project at completion will constitute 40 flats for Doctors, 50 rooms for Nurses, a training facility and other allied health professional facilities.
According to the President “the project will create a minimum of 200 local jobs in the Kerry Town area, Western Rural District.
He adds: “we are following through the new direction manifesto and the Medium-Term National Development Plan to increase affordable access to quality health care service delivery. That is in line with our human capital development, access to health and the sustainable development goal 3 on delivery good health and wellbeing to our citizens.”
President Bio says his Government has commissioned a 380 beds in four new hospitals in Kailahun, Hangha, Rokupa, and Kingharman Road and has turn sod for the construction of 360 beds in three facilities-Jojoima in the Kailahun District, Lower Banta and Upper Banta Chiefdoms in Moyamba District and 100 additional beds at 34 Military Hospital .
President Bio cautions his Ministers to ensure that there is transparency and competition in how partnerships are negotiated, clarity about outcomes and the quality of services that are delivered, and also effective oversight mechanisms for monitoring implementation and funding.
The President says Sierra Leoneans spend millions of dollars in foreign countries in search of specialty care services in other countries because our publicly funded hospitals still need more appropriate infrastructure and equipment and more specialty trained healthcare personnel and facilities.
“We have negotiated with EASI to provide superior and quality clinical services in-country to benefit our citizens and upgrade the general quality of health infrastructure…”
The President is working on a proposed concept of a health village that improves the quality of life of Sierra Leoneans. Such a concept is going to be inclusive of a comprehensive diagnostic, radiotherapy, and cancer treatment center within the health village.
The President envisages a Sierra Leone where the financial burden on Government and private individual for overseas medical treatment will be reduced.
President Bio thanked all those that are adhering to all COVID-19 advisories and encouraged community members to continue the proper wearing of facemasks, washing of hands and do social distancing.
According to the former Minister of Health and Sanitation the newly appointed Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Professor Alpha T. Wurie said “the hospital will be a full fledge tertiary hospital”.
The Dr. Samba, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation says the hospital will be in a position to conduct blood services, which will be sent to all hospitals in all parts of the country.
The event was chaired by Dr. Amara Jambai, the Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation.
