The people of Kortimor Island in Samu Chiefdom, Kambia District, are living under dire conditions due to the lack of proper health service delivery for over two decades. In an emotional interview, Area Chief Pa Komrabai Turay of Mahable expressed his deep concern, saying, “We have suffered a lot for over twenty to thirty years now without enjoying a conducive environment of ‘Health Service Delivery.’ We are worried as people.”

Despite ongoing efforts to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates nationwide, the residents of Kortimor Island are still forced to rely on a makeshift dilapidated structure for healthcare services. This situation has persisted for years, despite numerous advocacies for a better health facility for the island’s inhabitants.

A glimmer of hope arose a few years ago when Ambassador Foday Yumkella, the former Minister of Political Affairs, initiated a project to build a new health facility for the island. However, the project came to a halt following his retirement from active political service. As a result, the building remains unfinished, leaving the people of Kortimor Island in continued hardship.

Now, the unfinished building stands as a symbol of unfulfilled promises and missed opportunities for the residents of the island. Despite the desperate need for improved health services, no philanthropists, NGOs, or the District Local Council have stepped forward to complete the construction of the facility.

In their heartfelt plea, the people of Kortimor Island, led by Area Chief Pa Komrabai Turay, are calling on the government and the District Council to intervene urgently. They are appealing for immediate action to address their decades-long suffering and provide them with the basic right to accessible and quality healthcare.

The lack of adequate healthcare facilities on Kortimor Island not only poses a threat to the health and well-being of its residents but also perpetuates a cycle of poverty and despair. Improved health services are essential for the island’s development and the overall well-being of its people.

The plight of the people of Kortimor Island underscores the urgent need for government and local authorities to prioritize healthcare infrastructure in underserved areas. Immediate intervention is required to ensure that the residents of Kortimor Island have access to the healthcare services they so desperately need and deserve.

As the voices of the people of Kortimor Island grow louder, it is hoped that their plea for help will not go unanswered. The time to act is now, and the government and District Council must take swift and decisive action to address this critical issue and bring an end to the decades-long suffering of the people of Kortimor Island.