The Diaspora Medical Professionals are in the country following a recent recruitment of Sierra Leonean Diaspora Medical Experts under the Migration for Development in Africa (MIDA) project.
Addressing the medics, the Director of ODA Mr Kallay Musa Conteh thanked them for honoring the call to come and provide their services to the country. “you have indeed demonstrated high level of patriotism” He explained that ODA was established by His Excellency the President, Dr Ernest Bai Koroma in 2008 to harness the Sierra Leonean Diaspora Community; thereby bringing back home Sierra Leonean Diaspora Experts and resources for the development of the Country. He said: “We are still expecting other medical professionals by September, and when all of them arrive we will first of all take them to the ministry of Political and Public Affairs (MPPA) which is our supervisory Ministry and later to other stakeholders involve in the implementation of the project”
He recalled that in 2009 ODA brought home 25 Diaspora Experts through a UNDP funded project in order to capacitate and fill critical gaps in MDAs. He added that after when the project elapsed some of the experts decided to stay and serve their country.
The Project Coordinator for MIDA, Akao Kunikazu told the medical experts that ODA is one of the strong partners of IOM in the implementation of the MIDA project, adding that ODA and MOHS have been doing extremely well in ensuring that the project becomes a success story.
Olayinka Duke Pratt who is a medical instructor, and also an expert nurse from the United State of America expressed commitment that she will give her best to the country.
“My deepest thought has always been to come home and give back to my country” Madam Pratt said.
Kris Hyde, an expert in midwifery from UK said she was quite overwhelmed when the opportunity came up and will ensure to provide quality services to the vulnerable communities where the project will be implemented.
The MIDA health care project which is funded by the Japanese Government and implemented by IOM, ODA and MOHS aimed at strengthening the Sierra Leonean health care system through the deployment of experienced Diaspora Health care workers to communities that are in dire need of health care services in Sierra Leone.
Meanwhile the two Diaspora Experts will also visit the Ministry of Health and will later go to places like Mongo and Krubola in Koinadugu District where a pilot phase of the project will be implemented.
