Handing over the trucks, Dr. Alpha Tejan Wurie underscored the importance of the free health care drugs distribution across the country, stating that these items will serve as life-saving interventions for pregnant women, lactating mothers and children under five.

He told the gathering that the people of UK through DFID have been support the country many years for the free health care drugs. He said under the New Direction of President Bio, they will ensure that as a way of supporting the procurement of the free health care drugs, government contribute 10 percent in 2018, will contribute 30 percent in 2019 and 50 percent in 2020 as a way to own what they are giving the people.

Dr. Wurie informed his audience that the distribution of the free health care drugs will involve all stakeholders including the civil society, the Police to ensure that there is transparency and accountability in the process and that the drugs reaches not only the districts hospitals but also in the Health Centres and Peripheral Health Units (PHUs) across the country.

The Minister disclosed that they are conducting the exercise in a transparency and accountability to ensure that all stakeholders aware of what it takes in the distribution, adding that stakeholders should ask authorities to show the list that would go the DHMT for the Paramount Chiefs and community people to track what is going to the PHUs.

He added that the beneficiaries for the free health care drugs are pregnant women, lactating mother, children under-five, and this time round the disadvantage people and Ebola Survivors.

The Chairman Committee on Health in Parliament, Hon. Moses Baimba Jorkie described the handing over ceremony as an important day for the people of Kono district, but more especially the health workers because with these drugs they will not diagnose and work effectively.

He informed the gathering that previously the drugs were meant for three categories of people including pregnant women, lactating mothers and children but now it has been increase to disadvantaged people and Ebola survivors. He appealed to the stakeholders including the Paramount Chiefs, civil society groups, the Police, the Military and health workers to ensure that the drugs reaches the beneficiaries down to the remote areas.

He said with the introduction of the cost recovery drugs not too far from now in the hospital and the health centres will help those that are not in the free health care categories to buy these drugs at an affordable cost.

The District Medical Officer, Kono district, Dr. Gerald Young thanked the Ministry of Health and Sanitation especially the Minister, Dr. Alpha Wurie for the continuous supply of drugs and medical supplies to the hospital which will make them as health workers proud of.

He informed the gathering that under his leadership the Health Ministry will not be one of the best but the best Ministry in Sierra Leone. He added that during the Ebola outbreak, the disease run after them but now with a robust Health Ministry, they are now running after outbreaks, adding that recently they discover Marburg in fruit eating bats in the district and the team have curtail the spread of the disease.

He assured the Minister and team that these drugs will be used judiciously for it intended purpose and that the people will benefit from it.