KENEMA DISTRICT RECEIVES NINE TRUCKS OF DRUGS AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES FROM NMSA
The National Medical Supplies Agency (NMSA) has handed over nine trucks fully loaded with Free Healthcare drugs and medical supplies to Kenema District. This consignment of drugs and medical supplies is part of the Free Healthcare drug and medical distribution the Agency is currently embarking on.
As the Agency charged with the mandate for procuring, warehousing and distribution of drugs and medical supplies to all Government health institutions the in Country, NMSA conducts four quarterly distributions across the country every year, targeting Government Hospitals and Primary Health Unit (PHUs) in all sixteen districts of Sierra Leone.
In fulfillment of its quarter three and four distribution for 2024, the Agency a week ago began the movement of drugs and medical supplies from its warehouses in Freetown to different hospitals in the Western Area as well as the provinces. The latest district to benefit from this distribution is Kenema in the Eastern region of the country. The district on Thursday 14th November 2024 received nine trucks of fully loaded drugs and medical supplies that are expected to serve the district till the end of March 2025. The nine trucks were distributed among the Kenema Government Hospital receiving two trucks, the District Medical store receiving six its Primary Health Units (PHUs) and the Panguma Hospital receiving one truck.
The National Medical Supplies Agency (NMSA) has handed over nine trucks fully loaded with Free Healthcare drugs and medical supplies to Kenema District. This consignment of drugs and medical supplies is part of the Free Healthcare drug and medical distribution the Agency is currently embarking on.
As the Agency charged with the mandate for procuring, warehousing and distribution of drugs and medical supplies to all Government health institutions the in Country, NMSA conducts four quarterly distributions across the country every year, targeting Government Hospitals and Primary Health Unit (PHUs) in all sixteen districts of Sierra Leone.
In fulfillment of its quarter three and four distribution for 2024, the Agency a week ago began the movement of drugs and medical supplies from its warehouses in Freetown to different hospitals in the Western Area as well as the provinces. The latest district to benefit from this distribution is Kenema in the Eastern region of the country. The district on Thursday 14th November 2024 received nine trucks of fully loaded drugs and medical supplies that are expected to serve the district till the end of March 2025. The nine trucks were distributed among the Kenema Government Hospital receiving two trucks, the District Medical store receiving six its Primary Health Units (PHUs) and the Panguma Hospital receiving one truck.
The handing over of this medical consignment was done by NMSA’s Director of Human Resources Robert Dixon in the presence of a Member of Parliament, the Anti-corruption Commission, Civil Society Representatives, the media and some beneficiary groups of pregnant women and lactating mothers at the Kenema Government hospital. The Director of Human resources while handing over the drugs, commended the support of Government and other partners for making available the drugs and medical supplies that are meant to benefit; pregnant women, lactating mothers, children under-five, Ebola and COVID19 survivors and persons living with disabilities.
He however appealed to healthcare workers to ensure that the drugs reach the intended categories of beneficiaries thus, calling on the Anti-corruption, Civil Society and the media to help in monitoring the utilization of these drugs in the district.
Receiving the items, the District Pharmacist of Kenema Cyril Caulker underscored the timeliness of the delivery, assuring that the drugs and medical supplies will reach the intended beneficiaries. He appealed to nurses and other healthcare workers within the district to ensure they make good use of these commodities to benefit patients thereby, enhancing quality health service delivery in the district.
Stressing on the need for monitoring, Member of parliament representing the Committee of health Hon. Mariama Ella Goba noted, even though the drugs and medical supplies are free for beneficiaries, they are not free for the Government. She noted the procurement of such quantity, cost Government huge sums of money thus, appealing to the District Health Management Team (DHMT) for proper utilization to beneficiaries.
Investigations Officer of the Anti-Corruption Commission in Kenema Andrew Komeh, while commending NMSA for the delivery, reminded patients of their right to receive the drugs free of cost. He further encouraged patients to report any healthcare worker who request money from them in accessing these drugs, assuring that ACC will protect their identity and prosecute those health workers.
In collaboration with the Government of Sierra Leone the following partners; FDCO, UNICEF and Ellen Kella International supported the National Medical Supplies Agency (NMSA) in the procurement and delivery of these drugs and medical supplies.
He however appealed to healthcare workers to ensure that the drugs reach the intended categories of beneficiaries thus, calling on the Anti-corruption, Civil Society and the media to help in monitoring the utilization of these drugs in the district.
Receiving the items, the District Pharmacist of Kenema Cyril Caulker underscored the timeliness of the delivery, assuring that the drugs and medical supplies will reach the intended beneficiaries. He appealed to nurses and other healthcare workers within the district to ensure they make good use of these commodities to benefit patients thereby, enhancing quality health service delivery in the district.
Stressing on the need for monitoring, Member of parliament representing the Committee of health Hon. Mariama Ella Goba noted, even though the drugs and medical supplies are free for beneficiaries, they are not free for the Government. She noted the procurement of such quantity, cost Government huge sums of money thus, appealing to the District Health Management Team (DHMT) for proper utilization to beneficiaries.
Investigations Officer of the Anti-Corruption Commission in Kenema Andrew Komeh, while commending NMSA for the delivery, reminded patients of their right to receive the drugs free of cost. He further encouraged patients to report any healthcare worker who request money from them in accessing these drugs, assuring that ACC will protect their identity and prosecute those health workers.
In collaboration with the Government of Sierra Leone the following partners; FDCO, UNICEF and Ellen Kella International supported the National Medical Supplies Agency (NMSA) in the procurement and delivery of these drugs and medical supplies.