Health Minister Lauds MOHS Health Workers on EBOLA Fight at National MCH Week Launch in Bo City
Bo, June 6, 014 {SLENA) – Health and Sanitation Minister, Miatta Kargbo has called on all health workers to continue the good work in the fight against the dreadful Ebola disease.
Speaking at the National launch of the Maternal and Child Health Week at the Bo City Stadium in Bo on Thursday June 5, 2014, the Minister noted the strategic importance of the frontline health workers in high risk areas and other health workers in health facilities across the country, describing their job as a divine sacrifice in meeting the challenges within the ethics and code of practice of the profession.
Madam Miatta Kargbo warned against politicizing the situation and appealed to Paramount Chiefs, Religious and other Community Leaders to join forces with the Ministry to sensitize their various communities at chiefdom level on the necessary precautionary measures whilst active surveillance and case management is currently being given its due attention.
Commenting on the Maternal and Child Health Week, the Minister disclosed the distribution of about 3.8 million Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets to household across the country and encouraged beneficiaries to use the nets judiciously.
Sleeping under treated bed nets every night, the Minister said, would help prevent mosquito bites which carry malaria.
She told her audience that maternal and child health care is a priority in the government’s Agenda for Prosperity as well as the focus on the improvement of the nutritional status of the mothers and children under five years.
The Minister reiterated the importance of building the nutritional status of women and children, adding that during the exercise from June 5 to June 11, Deworming with Albendazole and Vitamin A capsules would be administered.
Malaria treatment for all age group, the Minister said is free in all government health facilities when diagnosed and confirmed by a laboratory test and appealed to partners for their continued support as the malaria disease burden continues to be a concern.
The UNICEF Representative, Mr. Roeland Monasch on behalf of the UN Country Team, described the MCH Week as a special event, and a positive hall mark for the free health care initiative.
Malaria, Mr. Monasch said has had a devastating effect on the lives of women and children and commended the Ministry for the positive strides on the control of the disease. Drugs, Mr. Monasch observed are not enough for the control of malaria, stressing the need for the rational use of the nets by the beneficiaries.
The UN Agencies, he said would continue to give the Ministry and the government and people of Sierra Leone the desired support.
Deputy Mayor Bo City, Mohamed Wurie Jalloh and the Resident Minister South, Muctarr Conteh spoke on the fruitful collaboration with the Bo District Health Management Team and the leadership and management of the Bo Government hospital in the fight against the Ebola killer disease, the malaria disease burden and other health issues.
Giving an overview, the Manager National Malaria Control Programme, Dr. Samuel Juana Smith said the beneficiaries for the Vitamin A capsules are children between six to 59 months and those for the deworming are children 12 to 59 months old, adding that all age group can benefit from the long lasting treated nets.
Worms in children, Dr. Smith said lead to anemia, diarrhea, reduces the ability to lean and causes jaundice and intestinal obstruction, pointing out that Vitamin A is very essential because it helps the body resist infections, ensuring that children grow well, have good sight, and reduces deaths. The Vitamin A capsule, Dr. Smith said is also good for adults especially for mothers after delivery or at least within six weeks of delivery to protect themselves and the newborn.
Malaria, Dr. Smith told his audience is the leading cause of illness and death in Sierra Leone, and encouraged the use of bed nets by all to prevent malaria.
Other speakers include the Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Sarian Kamara, representatives from DFID, UMC, EU, Global Fund and other key speakers.
An Inspection tour of various booths, administering of Vitamin A capsules and cultural performances formed part of the ceremony.
JAK/KK/MOHS/SLENA
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