Snowy Owl
Retired in 2010, In Memoriam
Lack of Medical Personnel Affects Sierra Leone
http://allafrica.com/stories/200610180513.html
Concord Times (Freetown)
October 18, 2006
Posted to the web October 18, 2006
Mariama Kandeh
http://allafrica.com/stories/200610180513.html
Concord Times (Freetown)
October 18, 2006
Posted to the web October 18, 2006
Mariama Kandeh
M?decins Sans Fronti?res Head of Mission, Jonathan Heffer Tuesday told journalists that lack of trained medical personnel is the major problem that is affecting Sierra Leone's health sector.
He made this disclosure at a press conference to launch the organization's 2005 survey titled: "Access to Health Care in Post war Sierra Leone," that covers Bombali, Tonkolili, and Bo district.
The ceremony took place at the British Council Hall, Freetown.
"Since the end of the civil war, MSF has been trying to fill the huge gaps in the health service sector.
The lack of trained medical staff, the terrible transport system, the lack of health education and the meager government budget allocated to health care affect health facilities," Heffer pointed out, adding that the structural problems underlying those gaps are massive.
He says the expertise of MSF alone cannot solve these problems, as their survey covered five major areas- the high level of mortality caused by high rate of malaria, smaller number of medical personnel in the country, inability to pay for medical care by the population, and inaccessibility to free medical care.
The MSF Chief called for free medical care for all Sierra Leoneans.
"Sierra Leone's future depends heavily on the support of the international community," he stated, adding that the international community has committed itself to overcoming the many facets of poverty that oppresses Sierra Leoneans whereby preventing the country from falling back into chaos.
He says health care is a fundamental building block of hope.
He made this disclosure at a press conference to launch the organization's 2005 survey titled: "Access to Health Care in Post war Sierra Leone," that covers Bombali, Tonkolili, and Bo district.
The ceremony took place at the British Council Hall, Freetown.
"Since the end of the civil war, MSF has been trying to fill the huge gaps in the health service sector.
The lack of trained medical staff, the terrible transport system, the lack of health education and the meager government budget allocated to health care affect health facilities," Heffer pointed out, adding that the structural problems underlying those gaps are massive.
He says the expertise of MSF alone cannot solve these problems, as their survey covered five major areas- the high level of mortality caused by high rate of malaria, smaller number of medical personnel in the country, inability to pay for medical care by the population, and inaccessibility to free medical care.
The MSF Chief called for free medical care for all Sierra Leoneans.
"Sierra Leone's future depends heavily on the support of the international community," he stated, adding that the international community has committed itself to overcoming the many facets of poverty that oppresses Sierra Leoneans whereby preventing the country from falling back into chaos.
He says health care is a fundamental building block of hope.