President Koroma inspects medical stores
President Ernest Bai Koroma, in keeping with his promise to inspect all medical stores across the country before April 27th 2010 (the date that government has set for the abolition of user fees in all hospitals/health centres for children, pregnant women and lactating mothers across Sierra Leone), yesterday 8th June 2010 made his first inspection at the Medical Stores at New England in Freetown.
Speaking at a meeting with all major stakeholders at the conference room of the Medical Stores, President Koroma said this was a follow-up to the last health meeting held at State House where it was discovered that there were still grey areas to be immediately addressed. He said contractual difficulties were to be settled at the meeting in the presence of all stakeholders, including Health Ministry officials, contractors, the National Authorising Office, UNFPA, UNICEF, and European Union Ambassadors, raising concern about the completion of the drugs stores and the provision of adequate storage facilities before April 27th.
At the end of very intense deliberations, the contractors (Nimo Construction Company), after assurances of the availability of funds, committed themselves to the completion of the project before the target date. The European Union pledged to release limited funds, while President Koroma informed Ministry of Finance officials that Government should be able to pay any outstanding amount. He ordered that the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health should henceforth intensely monitor and coordinate the programme, while reporting on a daily basis to the Secretary to the President.
The Head of State promised to call more meetings on the subject.
The Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation, Mohamed D. Koroma, opened the meeting and led the President on an inspection tour of the building project.
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