The United Nations Resident Coordinator, Babatunde Ahonsi, UNAIDS Rep, Issah Ahemesah and the WHO Representative, Dr. Steven V. Shongwe have on the 9th March, 2020 paid an official preliminary visit to Dr. Austin Demby, Minister of Health & Sanitation and team. The Minister, in his welcoming note pointed out that the move by the UN, WHO & Partners is a signal of readiness for continuing partnership and for which his ministry is warmly open to. The UN Resident Coordinator started out by congratulating the Minister on the arrival of the AstraZeneca-Oxford Vaccine and expressed that with his experience and background, the Minister’s appointment could not come at a better time. He continued that the UN family has enjoyed a long working relationship with MoHS and emphasized on the centrality of the health sector in achieving Sustainable Development Goals. “The health sector must be seen as an investment that generates significant returns rather than an expenditure” said Babatunde Ahonsi and continued that prioritizing human capital development should not be trivialized. Dr. Shongwe relayed that the WHO acknowledges the significant progress made by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation evident in the establishment of NaCOVERC in responding to COVID-19. He asserted that what may have started as a health issue proved to become a development issue wherein more resources require mobilization positioned to fostering functional institutional development. In his response to statements made by partners, the Minister of Health & Sanitation underlined how brilliantly were health issues captured by the visiting team and this presents an opportunity to change the narrative of immediate and emerging health concerns. The Minister laid out that his vision largely gears towards building the utmost potential of every Sierra Leonean through attractive health care service delivery, investment, institutional management and sustainability. Public Relations Unit, MOHS. +232-31-247511
The Parliament of Sierra Leone has on Tuesday 9th February 2021 approved with unanimity the Tenth Report of its Committee on Appointments and Public Service, chaired by the Leader of Government Business, Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma.The Following presidential nominee was approved by Parliament: Dr Austin Demby- Minister of Health and Sanitation Seconding the motion, the Opposition Whip, Hon. Hassan Sesay said somebody with such a resume’ must be appreciated and be approved by Parliament. He noted further that as an opposition when good people are brought for approval, they would always support. He told the Minister to take cognizance of the attitude of some of the officers working for his Ministry. “I hereby endorse the approval of Dr Austin Demby as the new Minister of Health and Sanitation”, he concluded. On his part, the Leader of NGC, Hon. Dr Kandeh Yumkella recalled his strong relationship with the nominee in light of his professional prowess and excellent performance in the medical field globally; and his contributions during the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone. He called on the nominee to expose issues relating to corruption. “When it comes to health and education, it is about the country and the people devoid of partisanship”.The Deputy Leader of Government Business, Hon. Bashiru Silikie said as a Government they have promised the people of a positive change in respect of social contract contained in the new New Direction manifesto. He reminded the Minister of the huge tasks ahead in the health sector and to employ new strategies with a view to overcoming these challenges.” The President, Parliament and the general public are expecting you to deliver”, he said and called on him to perform in order to meet these expectations. Chairman of Health and Sanitation Committee, Hon. Moses B. Jorkie commended President Bio for appointing Dr Austin Demby and asked him to work diligently with the health workers and his Committee. Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Ibrahim Ben Kargbo said they would always support the Government on what is good for the nation. “When we on this side praise you, it is from the bottom of our hearts”, he informed. He said, it is time to start utilizing people like Dr Demby; adding that he opted to fight Ebola in Sierra Leone as a volunteer. “The President has made a solid decision by appointing Dr Austin Demby to serve as Minister of Health and Sanitation”, he revealed. In rounding up the debate, Leader of Opposition, Hon. Chernor R. M. Bah said in responding to questions posed to the nominee, he recalled how he lectured them during the interview process. He recognized Dr Austin Demby for making a huge sacrifice by denouncing his dual citizenship to work in Sierra Leone and serve his compatriots. He asked the House and everyone to use Dr Demby as a springboard to bring other Sierra Leoneans home to showcase their expertise and contribute to national development. The Opposition Leader said that the nominee needs a good team to work with in order to deliver on his appointment. In concluding the debate, Leader of Government Business, Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma commended the nominee for helping the House to capture an impersonator and money swindler using names of Members of Parliament to extort monies from the gullible public. He said the nominee has a wide range of knowledge globally relating to medical; adding he needs a good team to deliver on his recent appointment by President Bio at a time when the world is battling to control, prevent and contain COVID-19. He advised him to change the narratives by bringing in positive results. “Be careful with the civil servants you have around you and be a professional”, he advised. The Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Dr Abass Chernor Bundu congratulated the nominee and said President Bio did not make any mistake with his appointment and wished him well in his new assignment. In another development, the Parliament of Sierra Leone has debated and committed the Bill entitled: “The Medical Examiners Act, 2020” to the Legislative Committee for further scrutiny and subsequent approval by Parliament.
The Honorable Acting Minister of Health and Sanitation Dr Anthony Augustine Sandi, keynote speaker at the Graduation Ceremony of the National School of Midwifery State Registered Midwives.
The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health Mr. Morie Momoh
The Director of Human Resources for Health at the Ministry of Health and Sanitation Mr Emile Koroma Chairperson for the Graduation.
The Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer Matron Mary Fullah
The Director Hospitals and Ambulance Services Dr. Matthew Vandi
President Sierra Leone Midwives Association Mrs. Safiatu A. Foday
The Principal School of National Midwifery Freetown Dr. Joan H.E.E Shepherd
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone, 30 January 2021– The National School of Midwifery today held its thirty-fourth graduation ceremony for 102 state certified midwives after they completed 18 months of intensive training in midwifery. The theme for this year’s graduation ceremony was “Midwives with Women: Celebrate, Demonstrate, Mobilise and Unite – Our time is now!”
Keynote speaker at the graduation ceremony, Acting Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Anthony Augustine Sandi, commended midwives for their integral role in reducing maternal and newborn mortality in the country. He said, “Their work remains crucial in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.” He also conveyed the government’s appreciation to development partners such as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for supporting the country’s midwifery sector.
Since 2010, UNFPA’s support to the National School of Midwifery in Freetown includes providing funds for uniforms and tuition fees among others, in its efforts to increase the number of competent midwives in the country to address the gap in the midwifery workforce. Effective clinical teaching is vital to developing a competent nursing and midwifery workforce whose practice contributes to building a strong health service for optimal public protection.
In 2020, with funds from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, through the Saving Lives in Sierra Leone Programme, UNFPA supported the Ministry of Health and Sanitation to develop the ‘Preceptorship Policy and Implementation Guidelines’. Preceptorship is an approach and a concept that is globally accepted and commonly practiced to achieve clinical competency. Preceptorship bridges the gap between theory and practice for trainee nurses and midwives, and allows for organised professional interactions between the trainee and an experienced and qualified professional.
From 2013 to 2019, Sierra Leone has made major improvements on maternal health indicators, particularly in the reduction of maternal mortality by almost 40 percent. As highlighted in the 2013 Demographic and Health Survey, there were 1,165 deaths per 100,000 live births compared to 717 deaths per 100,000 live births in the 2019 Demographic and Health Survey. The country has also witnessed a substantial increase in the percentage of skilled birth attendants from 60 percent in 2013 compared to 87 percent in 2019.
Delivering his remarks at the graduation ceremony, Dr. Stephen Mupeta, UNFPA’s Maternal Health Technical Specialist and Officer In-charge said, “Maternal mortality remains high in the country and we should not be complacent. We have a long way to go to reduce maternal mortality to less than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births as contained in the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.” He said, ”I strongly believe that with the efforts and investments being made in the health sector by the Government and development partners, that the country will make significant progress on the health related Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.”
Dr. Mupeta added, “UNFPA’s commitment to supporting the midwifery programme in Sierra Leone over the last 10 years, in collaboration with other development partners, has led to the graduation of just over 1,000 additional midwives who have been deployed to various health facilities across the country. With the current number of approximately 150 midwives graduating each year, Sierra Leone may not reach the required 3,000 plus midwives to meet the international standards for a midwifery workforce. We therefore call upon the Government of Sierra Leone to triple the production of midwives in the next few years.”
Sierra Leone is a West African country with a population of 6 million people and a life expectancy at birth of 45 years (male) and 46 years (female). A debilitating 11-year-long civil war ended in 2002, leaving the country’s health system much weakened. The government announced the Free Health Care Initiative in 2010. In 2014 however, Sierra Leone was one of the three countries most affected by the Ebola virus outbreak, with a total number of 3,799 reported deaths (WHO, March 2015), prompting the country to recognize and emphasize the role of communities in promoting health. The UHC Partnership initially supported integrating Ebola recovery plans into the national health policy framework, as the country developed a Basic Package of Essential Health Services 2015-2020 and a Health Sector Recovery Plan 2015-2020. The partnership has then shifted its support towards the development, implementation and monitoring of the National Health Sector Strategic Plan 2017-2021 as well as the establishment of Sierra Leone’s Social Health Insurance scheme. You can access important Ministry’s documents by clicking here.
