By: Binta Jaiteh
The Report of the select committee on Health, Disaster, Humanitarian, Relief, and Refugees has outlined the challenges faced by Kudang Health Centre.
The committee gathered these challenges on their visit to some health centers, Regional Health Directorates, and Disaster Hotspot Areas across the country.
Hon. Abdoulie Ceesay, a member of the Health Committee during the presentation of the report said inadequate staff and lack of accommodation for the staff is a challenge at Kudang Health Center.
He stated that the Committee discovered that the PCV machine at the lab was not functioning, the pharmacy and the lab were not having air conditioners, the solar panels are faulty, the water tanks are rusty, postnatal beds and mattresses tore no standard delivery bed at the labour-ward, and with only a few improvised gynecological examination beds. The roof is aged with asbestos becoming a health threat especially when inhaled.
Thus, he said the committee recommended the provision of a PCV machine for the facility lab, procurement of A/Cs for the lab and pharmacy, cleaning of the water tank and connecting it to the electricity to avoid water shortage, provision of 15 standard beds, and mattresses for admitted inpatients, provision of 4 standard delivery beds for the labour-ward, fencing the staff quarters and renovation of the facility’s roof.
Meanwhile, Hon Ceesay explained that from June 29th to July 6th, 2022, the National Assembly Select Committee on Health, Humanitarian Relief, and Disaster visited twenty health facilities, Regional Health Directorates, and several disaster hotspots to inspect and get first-hand information as part of its oversight functions. He added that throughout the 8-day tour, members of the Committee led by the Chairperson engaged heads and officials of these health institutions in a very fruitful and frank discussion.
“This process enabled the Committee to get vast information and facts that generated important findings, with these findings, the Committee was able to identify relevant progress, and constraints, and made critical recommendations for the way forward. The majority of the findings for all stakeholders in these health care facilities were similar in scope and relevant to their operations,” Hon Ceesay highlighted.
He further stated that the constraints and recommendations specific to each of the facilities toured by the Committee are elaborated on and indicated at the end of each report on any given site visited. Hence, findings affecting and specific to each facility are adequately commented on at the end of each section.
“The committee made general recommendations which include the Ministry of Health to post more qualified and specialized doctors in all the regions, regular fuel supply, and maintenance of all community ambulances in the regions.
“Scale up the number of nurses in the regions with motivation packages. Build good accommodation for both RHD and facilities’ staff in all regions, and riders for Health (RFH) to replace the old ambulances in the region that are not road worthy,” he revealed.
