Analysis
When the Minister of Health, Dr. Austin Demby, declared this year as the year of delivery, he meant that healthcare workers must double up effort and inject urgency in providing care to the people of this country. He meant that bold initiatives will be launched and delibrate actions taken to reach the doorsteps of people in remote communities with functional healthcare. So, it is not surprising therefore to see the Ministry of Health launch its newest health train. Dubbed as the “Nationwide Health Train Campaign 2025,” this spotlight initiative will help to dislodge the many barriers that impede effective service delivery and ensures that healthcare is more accessible, functional and reliable with a firm focus on the innovative Life Stages Approach.
An exciting new initiative-the District Spotlight–which aims to make healthcare more accessible, reliable, and effective for all Sierra Leoneans, has been launched in Moyamba district by the Minister of Health. This initiative will popularize the “Life Stages Approach,” a concept designed to give people medical care tailored to their specific needs at different points in life. This district spotlight, also known as the “Nationwide Health Train Campaign 2025” will see to it that services are delivered in an integrated and structured manner.
The health train, which is currently in Moyamba as the pilot district, will go round to all the sixteen disrtricts of the country, spending a month in each location, assessing available health services, diagnosing challenges and profering solutions as well as using the hospital on wheels buses to provide on-the-spot medical services to people who need them.
According to the Minister, the district spotlight is designed to accelerate knowledge about the life stages approach across all health facilities in the country. By so doing, children will get immunization services on time, pregnant women will have access to better maternal care, young people will receive reproductive health services, adults are screened for diseases and the elderly can receive proper medical attention and support.
But, the train will go beyond these, as Dr. Demby points out. “The train will work delibrately to reduce disease burden through education, early intervention, supply of adequate drugs and improve infrastructural challenges.” Dr. Demby succintly summarized the ultimate objective of the newly launched initiative.
“Our focus is clear: we want to ensure that people receive the care they need, when and where they need it with less interruptions.”
According to him, the Government of Sierra Leone and its development partners, are working assidiously to improve supply chains, strengthen referral systems, through effective ambulance services, and engage communities with the aim of ensuring that health services work for the people of this country.
The Ministry of Health Sets Ambiotious Targets for the Coming Years
Among other bold actions, MoH has set itself very ambitious targets for the coming years. These targets range from strengthening primary healthcare to improving secondary and tertiary care, and from enhancing health security to improving referral networks. The Minister and his team believe that these will ensure that people receive care where they live before illnesses become severe and that hospitals are better equipped to handle complex cases. Most importantly, the sector will be better prepared to handle future health emergencies, ranging from disease outbreaks to climate-related challenges.
It is against this backdrop that the Government of Sierra Leone and its development partners are proud to have launched the health train initiative in the provinces so that the vast majority of the population can benefit. As soon as it was launeched, the train’s first stop was at the Moyamba Government Hospital, where Dr. Demby and his team, were impressed by the amazing aray of services provided at the facility. Among other things, the hospital offers care for mental health, with a specialist on call, it runs a dental clinic, provides nutrition services, eye care, pediatric center, a regular outpatient unit, and a very impressive drug store that is properly ventilated and well stocked with supplies.
The WHO Country Representative, Dr. George Ameh, aptly described the hospital as a “district plus” hospital, to imply that the facility provides more services than expected. For the Minister of Health, the Moyamba Government Hospital exemplifies just what the President wishes to see in health facilities across the country. In addition to these, there is currently an ongoing construction of an ultra modern 100-bed hospital in Moyamba Town. When completed, this new facility will provide speciality medical and surgical services to the over 350,000 inhabitants of Moyamba district and beyond.
Health Workers and the People in Mokellay Village Work Together for Better Service Delivery.
On day two of the train’s tour of Moyamba, Minister Demby and his team visited the Mokellay Maternal and Child Health Post (MCHP), where himself, the WHO Country Representative in Sierra Leone, Unicef, UNFPA, and other senior managers of MoH were overwhelmed by the incredible love the community people displayed in support of their health workers.
Despite a few challenges with space and other infrastructural problems at the facility, the nurses are celebrated in Mokellay and it was very pleasing to witness what true community healthcare is- health workers and the people working together for better health outcomes. The importance of the Hospital on Wheels buses was once again highlighted in the health facility at Moyamba Junction. In a short space of time, over 300 people were tested and treated On The Spot for various medical conditions. As the health train continues to move around Moyamba, expectations are high among locals and the ministry staff on the train are relishing the possibilities of reaching the doorstpes of people with quality health services.
Moyamba, Tuesday 25th March, 2025.