Cutting the tape to officially open the centre, Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh said the health care system in the country will be among the top health priorities of the government of Sierra Leone and Kontha Wallah health centre is no exception.
She expressed thanks and appreciations to Madam Aminata and husband for the good work, adding that the building of the centre is a big sign for Port Loko district, as it will signifies that this year Port Loko must move forward.
Vice President Juldeh Jalloh informed his audience that the health centre is for the people of Kontha Wallah and admonished them to handle it with two hands as it is a community own centre, adding that as a government, they will ensure that the centre operates with drugs and medical supplies as well as health staff to run the centre.
He told the gathering that as Vice President, he will support to push Kontha Wallah to move forward through development, and called on the people of Kontha Wallah to support him too by rallying behind the new direction of President Julius Maada Bio.
Dr. Juldeh Jalloh commended the Deputy Minister of Health, the Chief Medical Officer and the Port Loko District Medical Officer and team for the hard work and quick response in ensuring that after the opening of the centre, it will start operations immediately.
He reminded the gathering that Port Loko was the new London of Sierra Leone before, but looking at it now, it is far from new London, adding that they the sons and daughters of Port Loko district including Madam Aminata should join hands together to make Port Loko become a new London.
The Vice President thanked Madam Aminiata and husband for the generous work in considering Kontha Wallah and assured of government’s commitment in ensuring that the centre work effectively so that the surrounding communities around Kontha Wallah will also benefit from the centre.
Deputy Health and Sanitation Minister, Dr. Anthony Augustine Sandi said the health centre would be operational starting Monday September 10, 2018 as the Ministry has mobilized all essential packages including drugs and staff to get the facility operational.
He informed his audience that the number of women dyeing during pregnancies and the number of under-five children also dyeing is too much and believe with this facility they would make good use of it.
Dr. Sandi disclosed that to ensure that the centre work effectively, the Ministry of Health will support by posting a Community Health Officer (CHO), a Midwife and an MCH Aide to work alongside with the existing staff to do an efficient work in the community.
He told the gathering that there is a body in America who are interested in supporting Sierra Leone with solar light system in 100 health facilities in the country, adding that Kontha Wallah will be one of the facilities out of the one hundred.
The Chief Executive Officer of the health centre, Mrs. Aminata Sankoh Yilla disclosed that together with her husband, brother and family constructed the health centre and named it after her late mother, Haja Fatu Memorial Health Centre for the locals at Kontha Wallah in the Lokomasama chiefdom.
She said the initiative came as a result of the high rate of deaths among infants and pregnant women, adding that as a child of the land thought it fit to construct the health centre to address the issues.
Highlights of the ceremony include statement by the Minister of State, North West, the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Amara Jambai and the District Medical Officer, Port Loko, Dr. Mamoud Idriss Kamara. Cutting of tape and a conducted tour of the facility formed high point of the ceremony.
