Sierra Leone: MPs Discuss Maternal and New Born Mortality
Members of Parliament have discussed the
initiative to accelerate the reduction of maternal and new born
mortality and morbidity during a one-day session held at Njala Venue
recently.
Giving an overview of the programme, Aiah Lebbie Sosokoeneh of the UNFPA said it is a three-year project (2012 to 2015) with funding from UN agencies, including UNFPA. He voiced his organisation's concern over the high level of teenage pregnancy, noting that 70 PHUs will be using the mobile health services by 2015.
"We might have all the drugs but if the people do not have the information, the project will not be successful," said Sosokoeneh.
Feimata E.J. Russell, a nutritionist said Sierra Leone is inadequate in terms of health care activities, and that with the present health system there is inequitable distribution of service delivery points, rural areas suffering neglect, challenges exist in the supply of drugs and medicines, and blood transfusion services equipment supply and laboratory services.
Mrs. Russell further noted the severe shortfalls that persisted in the public services in 2008, noting that of the 300 medical officers required 78 are available; of the 600 nurses required 315 are available; and 300 midwives needed.
According to the nutritionist, health care funding - which is 69.3% - is pocket spending. Teenage pregnancy, she said, gives birth to low weight babies, which is another area for maternal mortality.
In the question and answer session, MPs made meaningfully contributions with Hon. Ibrahim Bundu urging that advocacy on the initiative should continue, while Hon. Eric Jumu noted that they as parliamentarians do not know what their roles should be in the communities, as such functions seem to have been usurped by other people.
On the part of Hon. Elizabeth Lavalie, she disclosed that there is no funding for advocacy and that funds for monitoring and evaluation should be monitored by MPs.
For Hon. PC Benya, he observed that there are no proper facilities for medical staff in the communities and that by-laws should be sent to parliament for scrutiny.
In his contribution, Hon. Moses Sesay said ward communities are non-functional and called for hospital porters to be well motivated.
NEWMAP's Patricia Macauley put together a paper on maternal mortality monitors which was undertaken by the MPs and then passed in parliament. She said such messages should be taken to their constituencies.
Dr. Peter Sikana noted that health service is a business, and if the health system is neglected the nation will remain poor, thus calling for investment in the health system.
"We need to know what is happening in the health sector, as majority of our women die due to lack of health facilities where they could go for treatment," Dr. Sikana pointed out.
Giving an overview of the programme, Aiah Lebbie Sosokoeneh of the UNFPA said it is a three-year project (2012 to 2015) with funding from UN agencies, including UNFPA. He voiced his organisation's concern over the high level of teenage pregnancy, noting that 70 PHUs will be using the mobile health services by 2015.
"We might have all the drugs but if the people do not have the information, the project will not be successful," said Sosokoeneh.
Feimata E.J. Russell, a nutritionist said Sierra Leone is inadequate in terms of health care activities, and that with the present health system there is inequitable distribution of service delivery points, rural areas suffering neglect, challenges exist in the supply of drugs and medicines, and blood transfusion services equipment supply and laboratory services.
Mrs. Russell further noted the severe shortfalls that persisted in the public services in 2008, noting that of the 300 medical officers required 78 are available; of the 600 nurses required 315 are available; and 300 midwives needed.
According to the nutritionist, health care funding - which is 69.3% - is pocket spending. Teenage pregnancy, she said, gives birth to low weight babies, which is another area for maternal mortality.
In the question and answer session, MPs made meaningfully contributions with Hon. Ibrahim Bundu urging that advocacy on the initiative should continue, while Hon. Eric Jumu noted that they as parliamentarians do not know what their roles should be in the communities, as such functions seem to have been usurped by other people.
On the part of Hon. Elizabeth Lavalie, she disclosed that there is no funding for advocacy and that funds for monitoring and evaluation should be monitored by MPs.
For Hon. PC Benya, he observed that there are no proper facilities for medical staff in the communities and that by-laws should be sent to parliament for scrutiny.
In his contribution, Hon. Moses Sesay said ward communities are non-functional and called for hospital porters to be well motivated.
NEWMAP's Patricia Macauley put together a paper on maternal mortality monitors which was undertaken by the MPs and then passed in parliament. She said such messages should be taken to their constituencies.
Dr. Peter Sikana noted that health service is a business, and if the health system is neglected the nation will remain poor, thus calling for investment in the health system.
"We need to know what is happening in the health sector, as majority of our women die due to lack of health facilities where they could go for treatment," Dr. Sikana pointed out.
