A humble request to president Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma on health matters

Sierra Leone has been blessed with a president and leader who cares for his people, but it may seem the old adage of “Old habits die hard” holds true in trying to turn the country around to full blown development.

The introduction of ‘Attitudinal Change’ and the ‘Agenda of Prosperity’ has done many glorious transformations that are worthy of praise and God willing will yield more positive results as we continue to grow in our vision for developing mama Salone.

Mr. President , sir, I read with great enthusiasm on the recommendations by the task force for health. Please permit my humble plea as a strong advocate that wants to see more positive happenings become a reality in the health system of our country.

We welcome the Chinese hospital, the Choithram hospital, Mabsseneh hospital and many other health institutions operating in the country. These hospitals have been life savers and their efforts cannot be underplayed. The recommendations by the task force are commendable and I would like to add to their noble ideas that the Connaught hospital needs complete transformation, relocation and visual objectives.

I have followed up with great admiration the energy, time and resources your government is subscribing towards the health ministry yet we are falling short of our health needs. What can we do rhetorically as medical personnel ? Plenty of course, but nothing much without the tools to work with.

As we move on with the Millennium Development Goals, may I suggest the government of Sierra Leone should go into contract with the American government to revamp our medical system, there are many hospitals the government of Sierra Leone can work with in the United States. I know of certain institutions like the hospital I work for that has helped set up an 800 bed hospital in Haiti; why can’t this be done in Sierra Leone under a rigid management ?

The hard truth would be finance, but assuming we receive donor finances, if donor services instead of cash are directly implemented by the American government on the ground, then Connaught hospital should be relocated or have a branch in other areas around the peninsula or along the new city anywhere between Masiaka and Freetown. This can accommodate more specialties to serve the nation well.

The Chinese hospital or Choithram hospital cannot do it alone and a government hospital will be more cost effective and advantageous for the people of Sierra Leone.

More medical personnel would willingly reverse the brain drainage to give service to their country. It is time to reverse the “Dead capital” of our country to a Vibrant capital. With the vast mineral wealth Sierra Leone has I can only see this happening now within your presidency. I am not sure who is taking after you will be vision minded to help our country develop like the way you have started and moving on.

Please leave a legacy of a good health system in Sierra Leone.

Please excuse my being naïve if my humble request does not sound well. May the Agenda of Prosperity thrive well and succeed for the good of mama Salone.

Your humble national.

Dr. Augustine Kamara (Wheelman)

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