ChildFund, in collaboration with the Munafa M'patie Federation, has commissioned newly constructed medical staff quarters and a renovated Peripheral Health Unit (PHU) in Mapaki, in the Bombali District.
The Vice President of ChildFund International, Madam Naomi Rutenberg, spearheaded the commissioning, which was witnessed by top officials from ChildFund International and, in the country, the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, community members, and local government.
The Regent Chief of Mapakie, Edward Christopher Sesay, appreciated the level of development undertaken so far by ChildFund, not only in his chiefdom but in the entire district as a whole.
And notwithstanding such support, the chief pleaded with the child-focused organization to continue to do more to support his chiefdom in different areas.
Sanu Conteh, the Programme Manager of Munafa M'patie Federation in Bombali, explained more about the PHU's condition and the suffering of medical personnel before ChildFund's intervention, saying the PHU was in very bad shape before now, with a leaking roof, poor bed conditions, and no accommodation facilities for staff.
He disclosed that the staff was faced with an accommodation challenge, which made their work cumbersome.
"And if they are to give their best in taking care of patients, they must have a decent and conducive environment, which has now been provided," he said.
The newly constructed quarters have four rooms and two parlors, as well as internal bathrooms, which weren't there before.
In his statement, the Africa Regional Director of ChildFund International, Chege Ngugi, said, "Worldwide, children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of poor health, whether they stem from malnutrition, communicable diseases, or birth defects." Thus, ChildFund has health and nutrition as one of its priority areas in all 24 countries where we operate.
He said ChildFund works in the PaKi Masabnag Chiefdom dates as far back as 2004 when these facilities were dilapidated due to the decade-long war in Sierra Leone. "ChildFund was the first INGO to enter Paki Masabang Chiefdom with hardware activities under the leadership of the late Dr. Juan Smith as District Medical Officer."
During that time, they built the Kathatha-Bana Maternal and Child Health Post, rebuilt the Masingbi Maternal and Child Health Post, and renovated the Mapaki Community Health Center, among other things.
Representing the District Health Medical Team (DHMT) in Bombali, the risk communication and social mobilization lead, Mohamed Conteh, said Mapaki is among the first places in the rural area to have a health center, way back in 1978.
He thanked ChildFund for the numerous supports they have been providing not only in the health sector but in the areas of education, child protection, agriculture, and others.
He called on the medical staff and community members to take ownership of the facilities, noting that they do not belong to one person but to everybody.
And in an interview with the Country Director of ChildFund, Victor Kamara, he stated that "ChildFund has been in this community and district for quite a while," noting that they're not the only facilities they're providing support to.
Mr. Kamara furthered that despite such facilities being constructed and renovated, there is hope to look for more resources to be able to expand those facilities and help other facilities that are referring to this center so that they can also be expanded.
Prior to the commissioning of the two facilities, the ChildFund International Vice President, Naomi Rutenberg, underscored that "ChildFund's strategic direction has health as one key component for addressing a series of health-related challenges children across the world, including in Sierra Leone, grapple with." We just wrapped up fruitful engagements with government officials and some of our partners to look at opportunities to close those gaps in the health sector, and I believe that together with everyone seated here and with the support of other stakeholders, we can do it.
She maintained that "as you all know, poor health leads to serious complications for children, including death." Poor health reverses all the significant gains of the other sectors. The death of one child is a huge loss and a blow to everyone, including us at ChildFund, which is why we are very keen on identifying health issues and mapping out ways for addressing those illnesses that continue to claim the lives of our beloved children.
The vice president said they do not want children to merely survive but to thrive so that they can achieve their full potential. "What we have done in these facilities goes to show our strong commitment as an organization to ensuring that children are healthy and safe."
"At ChildFund, we connect children with what they need to grow up healthy, educated, skilled, and safe."
Other stakeholders within the district also made pertinent statements as the ChildFund Vice President officially commissioned the newly constructed staff quarters and the PHU. The people of the chiefdom were in a jubilant mood, singing songs of praise for ChildFund, which was backed by the presentation of gifts to them as well.
The Vice President of ChildFund International, Madam Naomi Rutenberg
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