The pronouncement by the President, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma in Kenema which came out in September 2014 during his country wide Social mobilization campaign in the fight against the Ebola was in recognition of the voluntary services rendered by this first crop of patriotic health professionals.
A good number of Nurses, Doctors Laboratory Technicians, MCH Aides, Porters and other category died in the event to save life. ‘May their souls rest in Peace’. Today those that are fortunate to see the end of the outbreak, and survived the virus have been awarded the patriotic golden token of commitment and dedication by no less a person than His Excellency the President of the Republic, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma.
It would be recalled that during the outbreak very many health professionals shy away their responsibility and abandoned their duty stations, especially in rural Sierra Leone. The Maternal and Child Health Aides (MCHA) including other category of health workers stood their grounds with compassionate care and dedication to save the population from the unpredictable disastrous crisis.
In February 2016 this year, the Ministry of Health and Sanitation in collaboration with the Health Service Commission put into effect the recruitment of MCH Aides with their new nomenclature” Maternal Child Health Assistant” through the Human Resource Management Office (HRMO) in fulfillment of the dream of the father of the nation, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma to make his health workers happy with this token of appreciation.
Dr. Bundu Kamara is the Chairman of the Health Service commission. In a telephone conversation, he described the President’s moral political thinking as laudable noting that the developments of a nation largely depend on the health of the people. Health and Sanitation Minister, Dr. Abu Bakarr Fofanah and his team of health professionals and administration, have also been commended for pushing the President’s Post Ebola Action Plan in a timely manner for the promotion of maternal and child health in the country. Dr. Bundu Kamara reiterated his Commission’s commitment and dedication to complete the entire recruitment process in six weeks’ time, adding that more are expected to be employed following the 600 now on the employment trail.
The Chief Nursing Officer in an informal conversation noted the change in the nomenclature of the MCH Aides into MCH Assistant, pointing out that it is an added value to their career pathway. “Nurses, as officially recorded, form the largest work force in the health sector, and work in close collaboration with doctors and other cadre to make the necessary impact”. Opined, the Chief Nursing Officer, Matron Hossinatu Kanu
For my people in the little town of Mateboi, the recruitment process is laudable, but fast-tracking the appointment with a Pin Code is a serious concern. So the eyes are widely open to see when the earning of salaries would take effect.
