By: Mohamed M. Sesay
As the Mobile Health Clinic became functional, the Minister of Health and Sanitation Dr. Austin Demby on Monday the 1st of August 2022 hobnobbed with patients (beneficiaries) with words of encouragement and hope for a speedy recovery. The Mobile Health Clinic Buses have departed and currently administering treatments to citizens in all the District Headquarters Towns. The Mobile clinic intends to provide quality healthcare delivery to citizens irrespective of their geographical enclave.
Minister of Health and Sanitation Dr. Austin Demby, expressed that he felt elated and very impressed by the work of the doctors and the nurses for the tremendous job they are doing. He added that the process is not yet perfect but the Ministry is giving it a try for an anticipated successful outcome. The Minister also disclosed that he felt also impressed by the recommendations he got from the patients that nurses and doctors are treating and talking to them nicely.
Dr. Austin Demby furthered that all the treatments that are going on on the bus are free. He added that his Ministry is doing such to complement healthcare delivery as the government still determines to build healthcare services across the country. Dr. Demby also disclosed that they struggled to raise the funds for the Mobile clinic but the government has put in some money which has enhanced its operation. He also revealed that they have redirected funds from the covid-19 program so that they can expand the covid-19 vaccination.
Deputy Chief Medical officer Mustapha Kabba assured everybody in the country that the buses would reach every part of the country. He encouraged the citizens of Sierra Leone to give in their best in support of the project.
He reiterated that people would benefit as they are determined to take quality Healthcare delivery to every town and chiefdom in the country.
Yayah Koroma, one of the benefices, expressed delight and felt relief after receiving the treatment. He encouraged Sierra Leoneans to take the Mobile Health Clinic very seriously because they provide quality treatment freely. He also disclosed after receiving her treatment, that the nurses gave her a lot of medications that would last with him for six months.
It could be recalled that on the 7th of March 2022, President Julius Maada Bio launched the mobile Health Clinic -on Wheels Project at York Village in the Western Rural District. The project was launched to enhance free and accessible health services to all the 140 Chiefdoms in Sierra Leone.
The Mobile Health Clinic Buses provide free Covid-19 vaccinations, essential primary health care services, and also general healthcare services which include maternal and child health screening for high blood pressure, blood sugar level, kidney disease, and malaria.
Dr. Austin Demby- Minister of Health and Sanitation
