NMSA MD Updates the Media on Distribution Activities
The Managing Director of the National Medical Supplies Agency (NMSA) Madam Jatu Abdulai, at a press briefing on 2nd April 2025, provided an update to the media on the Agency’s work.
During her opening statement, the Managing Director reminded the media of the Agency’s core mandates of procurement, warehousing and distribution of drugs and medical supplies for and on behalf of Government to all Public Health Facilities.
Keeping the media updated on current activities undertaken by the Agency, the MD informed the press on the just concluded first quarter Integrated Distribution of HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria drugs across the country, and the commencement of the Free Healthcare Distribution; targeting pregnant women, lactating mothers, children under-five, persons living with disabilities and Ebola and Covid 19 survivors.
According to the Managing Director, the first quarter Integrated Distribution for 2025, which commenced in February and was completed in Match was a $3 million worth of health commodities, a support from the GC 7 grant currently being implemented by the Ministry of Health through the Global Fund to fight AIDs, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
This distribution saw the delivery of Drugs and Medical supplies to twenty-four Government hospitals, some private hospitals, Key Population (KPs) and Sixteen District Medical Stores. These commodities will be distributed by the district medical stores to all respective Peripheral health units approximately 1500 in total across the country.
The Managing Director furthered revealed that the Free Healthcare distribution commenced on the 28th March, and will continue for the next two to three weeks. The Free Healthcare distribution she continued, will also target all sixteen district medical stores, government hospitals and all respective Peripheral Health Units across the country with medical supplies worth $2.5 million dollars.
The importance of such engagement cannot be over-emphasized owning to the fact that supply chain from the central level is mostly implemented at district level. Better understanding of roles, and the different processes involve would therefore help to address the many challenges and bottlenecks felt at district level.
The intention for the gathering the Managing Director of NMSA re-emphasized is, a platform for frank discussions on supply chain issues at hand, finding ways to addressing them while improving understanding of the roles of each player in the chain.
The discussions from the two days engagement identified practical examples that has to do with delays, stockout at district and facilities, proper utilization of stocks while also recommending solutions to making supply chain efficient thereby, enhancing effective health service delivery throughout Sierra Leone.
Discussion points from the briefing included; how to strengthen monitoring in the utilization of commodities at Facility level thus, ensuring it benefits the targeted groups, actions against those found selling these medicines amongst other issues.
The Agency, sees the media as a valued partner in the implementation of its core mandates, that seek to improve quality health delivery in the country hence, such engagement will be continues.