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Residents of Kulor-Saradu Chiefdom in Falaba District have raised concerns over severe staffing and resource shortages at the Saradu Community Health Center (CHC), saying the facility remains unable to adequately serve the area despite its recent upgrade.
The health facility, located in Yaradu Town, was upgraded from a Maternal and Child Health Post (MCHP) to a Community Health Center. However, it is currently being operated by only one health worker.
Saidu Tarawally, the Community Health Officer (CHO) posted to the facility since June 2025, said he is handling multiple responsibilities alone.
“I am here by myself, doing everything — consultations, deliveries, record-keeping, cleaning, and counseling. It is mentally draining,” he said.
According to national health staffing standards, a Community Health Center should have at least two Community Health Officers, a Maternal and Child Health Aide, a midwife, a Maternal and Child Health Nurse, and a laboratory technician.
At present, Tarawally said none of those positions, apart from his own, have been filled.
He added that attempts to attract additional staff have been unsuccessful because of poor working conditions.
“No equipment, no drugs, no water, no proper structure — people come and leave without even informing me,” he said.
Residents said the shortages have created major challenges, especially for pregnant women and emergency patients, many of whom travel more than 40 miles to neighbouring Kono District for treatment.
Mariama Samura, a pregnant resident, described the journey as dangerous.
“We usually travel to Kono for deliveries and complications. The road is very bad, especially in the rainy season. We go by motorbike. Imagine a woman in labour on an okada for that distance,” she said.
During the rainy season, poor road conditions often make access to healthcare even more difficult.
Community leaders and residents are now calling on the government to intervene by deploying more health workers, ensuring a regular supply of drugs, providing clean water, improving sanitation facilities, and rehabilitating roads linking the chiefdom to major health centres.
Tarawally also called for the posting of permanent government health workers to ensure continuity of services.
“The government upgraded this facility on paper. Now it must make it functional,” he said.
Residents say they are appealing for urgent support to improve healthcare access in the chiefdom.
Source: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BKambDxq5/
