By Ibrahim Joenal Sesay
FREETOWN, Mar. 30 (232news.com) – The Medical Superintendent of the Ola during Children’s Hospital Dr. Ayeshatu Mustapha has said that for the past two years now the hospital is been operating without an X-Rray machine. She made this statement at Administration Conference room parliament building when the Committee on Health and Sanitation headed by Hon Moses Baimba Jorkie summoned the hospital due to several complains the committee have been receiving from the public about poor facilities in the hospital.
Dr. Mustapha pointed out that since 2018 the hospital has not been able to pay dieticians and cleaners as subventions from the Ministry of health and sanitation has been very untimely. She lamented that the hospital with 190m beds can only boast of twelve doctors; six are out of the country for studies and four as permanent doctors. The medical superintendent went on to say that the hospital has six securities and they are working on 24 hours a day. The hospital she said is run on twenty four hours basis. She however revealed that the German government has provided the sum of Two Million Euros to procure equipment which they have duly done.
The Head of Department Pedestriatic at Ola during Hospital Dr. Nellie Bell on her part said that she was finding it difficult to work under the prevailing conditions especially dealing with children. She said even though they were making frantic to up keep the hospital yet the lack of X-Ray Machines, insufficient doctors and funds was making their job unbearable. She applauded the nurses whom she said were doing voluntary job and called on them to upgrade themselves so as to become pediatricians.
Hon Hafiju Kanja said that there was a need to invite the permanent Secretary, Chief Medical Officer and Chief midwives to explain to the committee about conditions at the hospital. Hon Dr.Upha G.Koroma said the medical superintendent has informed the committee about the poor medical and the volunteer nurses but asked what as an institution were doing to combat those challenges.
P’MENT FROWNs AT SALWACO
The Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Water Resources Hon Lahai has said that the Leader of Government Business and members of the committee they are going to take action against the Sierra Leone Water Resources Company (SALWACO) for implementing project that has not been ratified by parliament this came when the committee summoned SALWACO and there contractors that has been awarded different projects for people to get access to rural area.
Hon Marah pointed out that for four years when this government took power they have been given billions of dollars has been expended for providing water in rural area the committee will not hesitate to terminate contract that is not going on, he also asks the Director General how many projects are under SALWACO, how many of the projects has been completed also total revenue that they have been generated.
The Accountant responds that in 2019 the generate Le2.1bn, 2020 Le 2.7bn and in 2021 is Le 4bn. Hon Marah asks the total number of meters they have install per regions and there procurement cost, he realized that much has been expended also how many bowsers are they operating. The Director General Ing Vandy told the committee that they are operating on 2 and the half bowsers. Also one of the director inform the committee that Indian Exist Bank has funded four projects the Ministry of Finance told them that Parliament has ratified this agreement. Hon Marah said SALWACO is implementing projects that is not approved is a crime for SALWACO.
Hon Dr. Mack Mahmoud Kalokoh said parliament should put a hold on these projects on the four town’s lots SALWACO approach to the committee is a deliberate that is why SALWACO is missing the point when the committee went on oversight at Magburaka were one of their project is they saw a lot of inefficiency it is due to premature publication.
Hon Marah has to stand down SALWACO to come with all documents and contractors on Monday March 7th 2022 to the committee.
