By: Mohamed M. Sesay
The Minister of Health and Sanitation Dr. Austine Demby, has on Monday the 30th of January 2023, handed over three Ambulances to the management of the Connaught Hospital, and also turned sod for the construction of a Burn Unit within Connaught premises.
In his statement, Dr. Austin Demby reminded that on November 5th 2021, there was a catastrophe wherein, Sierra Leoneans were burnt to death by fire accident. He added that isolated cases of burnt cases have been happening across the country without specified center to host victims of burnt incident. He said the country has top class doctors specialized in burnt cases. He however noted that no matter the number of specialties the country has, they would not be able to attend to hundreds of burnt cases.
Dr. Austin Demby added that, the physical infrastructure of the hospital that requires to manage some of the burnt case was lacking.
In order to stabilize the patients, Minister Demby said in some cases it was better to take the patients on the floor instead of putting them on the bed. He therefore expressed elation for the construction of the burnt unit within Connaught Hospital.
He lauded that corporate social responsibility exhibited by Leone Oil and NP-SL for championing the construction of the Burnt Unity. “We are hoping that in the next two months the Burnt Unit would be commissioned. The Burnt Unity is not all about the building. It requires the drugs, equipment and manpower to man the facility”, he said.
The Health Minister therefore, assured that massive training of medical staff is ongoing in order to manage the Burnt Unit when construction would have completed.
The Chief Executive Officer for NP-Sierra Leone Kobbi Walker, said they intend to fulfil their corporate social responsibility in constructing the Burnt Unit for the general good of Sierra Leoneans.
He has the credo that the Burnt Unit is now much needed than any other facility within Connaught Hospital. He said the construction of the facility is to ensure that whenever there are burnt related incident anywhere in the country, adequate facility is assured for such cases. As one of the leading Oil Company in Sierra Leone, Kobbi Walker intimated that they believe in supporting the socio-economic development and the well-being of the people of Sierra Leone. He concluded that they are looking forward to handing over the facility to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation in the coming few months.
The Managing Director for Leone Oil, Ibrahim D. Cole, said when the November 5th 2021 Fire incident happened; they have been offering their help to the victims. He said the construction of the Burnt Unit is the only thing the company thought would have an everlasting mark for the people of Sierra Leone. He assured that fullest corporation for the construction of the project.
He also assured the Minister and the Management of Connaught Hospital that in the next couple of months, the would hand over the building to the Government of Sierra Leone.
