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Vice President Dr. Juldeh Jalloh recently attended the 47th Annual General Scientific Meeting organized by the Sierra Leone Medical and Dental Association.
The three-day meeting focuses on raising awareness about Tetanus disease and its prevention, while also addressing challenges in collaboration with the government to improve the health sector and support health professionals.
In his keynote address, Vice President Dr. Juldeh Jalloh announced that the government has allocated one billion new Leones to enhance the health sector, alongside salary increases for healthcare workers. “Since 2018, the government has increased the health sector budget from 6% to 11% in 2021,” he stated. “This substantial investment allows us to expand the payroll of health workers to over five thousand.”
The vice president highlighted the positive impacts of these efforts, including reductions in maternal mortality rates and bringing infant mortality rates below 50%. He noted that healthcare density has increased from 13.4% to 20%. Additionally, the government has allocated 1.5 billion new Leones to the healthcare sector, representing 9% of the total primary budget, with another billion new Leones set aside specifically for wages and salaries of healthcare workers. By March of this year, five hundred military healthcare workers are expected to be recruited.
The Vice President praised healthcare professionals for their diligence and efficiency in serving the nation.
Dr. Fredrick Coker, President of the Medical and Dental Association, emphasized the importance of raising awareness about Tetanus disease. He pointed out that many people, especially young children, are unaware of the disease’s dangers, which can lead to fatalities. He urged the public to get vaccinated, particularly after sustaining wounds, stating, “ Tetanus is a health issue of national concern.”
Together, medical professionals are collaborating to find effective ways to prevent Tetanus disease. Dr. Coker also addressed challenges in this fight, including a lack of awareness and patients’ reluctance to seek treatment for wounds.
Professor Charles Senessie, Deputy Minister of Health, encouraged members of the Medical and Dental Association to align their programs with the Ministry of Health’s strategic plan. “The government looks at healthcare from a holistic perspective, viewing it from conception to senior citizens and considering all factors along the journey of life,” he stated.
The meeting serves as a pivotal platform for addressing key health issues in Sierra Leone while fostering collaboration among healthcare professionals and the government.
