WAHO Clocks 24
The Ministry of Health and Sanitation and the West African Health Organisation (WAHO) over the weekend celebrated the 24th anniversary of WAHO at the Atlantic Hall National Stadium in Freetown.
The theme of the programme was Attaining the Millennium Development Goal (MDGs), the challenge of Multisectoral Approach. The celebration brought together stakeholders from all sectors of the society.
In his address the Chairman of the event Dr. Samuel Kargbo said the organization was born due to the misunderstanding of the English and French speaking countries in addressing health issues in the West African region. He said WAHO is a collection of 15 West Africa countries that came together to help achieve the MDGs.
He emphasized that the MDG’s will not be achieved if the country continues to get bad roads as bad roads lead to health problem among other things. “We will not achieve the MDG’s if we continue to have bad roads in the country. We need to look at all area related to health and bring other sectors who are professional in their own areas to help us achieve the MDG’s.” he said.
Country Director Helen Keller International Dr. Mary Hodges said the last decade has been significant progress in the MDG’s in Sierra Leone. “The health ministry has made great progress. I am sure we are on target of the MDGs, “
Her speech continue “If SL has managed to more than half the U5M from in just 5 years reaching its MDG # 4 by 2015 seems within reach with continued sustained action.
However the success of the MOH&S moves the MD “goal posts’ for other Ministries in the GoSL
As child mortality rapidly falls the school aged population requiring education rises and the population requiring food and ultimately employment correspondingly increases. These are serious challenges in the provision of education, food and jobs.
Plans and budget created by Ministries based upon population projections upon the 2004 National Census will need to be revisited with this changed demographic in mind.
The MEST will have a greater than projected school aged population for which to achieve provide universal primary education MDG# 2.
The MTI and MA Forestry and Fisheries will have a greater than projected population to fed and employ and met: eradication of extreme poverty and hunger MDG # 1.
The negative impact of not meeting the Moving MDGs 1 and 2: feeding and employing this increased population could result in instability.
When U5MRs fall the demand for family planning counseling and provision rises as families realize less pregnancies are required for the desired family size. The integration of these Family planning facilities into routine under five care as being piloted in the WA with MOH&S and HKI.
A routine ‘EPI’ type appointment has been allocated in the new child health cards to encourage the mother and the health care provider to keep an appointment when the infant reaches 6 month of age for VAS. During this visit FP counseling and provision of commodities could be routinely provided. This intervention could be scaled up to national coverage in 2012 with support from partners after the results of the pilot scheme are available.
The MEST will be challenged to met the primary school placements for this rapidly increased school aged population which is evident everywhere you look in SL. New schools, more primary school teachers, more teacher training facilities, more salaries, more materials all will be required as the MD ‘goal posts’ are moved for MDG #2 provision of universal primary education a result of success in MDG #4 reduced child mortality.
To my colleague NGOs, we need to renew our focus in supporting the GoSL meet these moving MDGs.
No one agency can do everything, everywhere and still do it well. We have to focus our efforts where we have our niche and comparative advantage for greatest impact to avoid duplication and inefficiencies.”
Dr. Charles Mugero of the World Health Organisation said there is a need for stakeholders to revisit their commitment and for them to take stock of where they are. He pointed out that, 114 countries heads of state signed the MDGs in 2001. “We cannot achieve health alone but to increase government and partners’ awareness,” he said.
Deputy Minister of Health Tamba Bobor Sawyer read the statement of the Director General of WAHO Dr. Placido M. Cardoso, in the statement “July 9, 1987 – July 9, 2011, 24 years ago, Heads of State and Government of the West Africa region convinced of the benefits of federating efforts and differences in our region adopted the protocol establishing the West African Health Organisation.”
The statement went on to say that WAHO, a specialized institution of ECOWAS on health issues, was born of the merger between the Francophone organization for cooperation and cooperation for Major Endemic Disease Control (OCCGE) and the Anglophone West African Health Community (WAHC). Its mission is to serve all fifteen member states of ECOWAS in the field of health by transcending language barriers in the region.
“We have already embarked upon the last five years leading to the due date of the MDGs. In fact, it is becoming urgent to reflect on the achievement of these global commitments by 2015. Progress has been made in most of the 189 signatory States who committed themselves to achieving these goals. However, Africa in general and West Africa in particular, may not achieve most of these goals,” he said.
“Moreover, how can we make the health system efficient without other development sector such as: communication, education, public works and planning of the private sector?” he asked.
However four key actions were added by the Director General as ways to address the challenges:
Address the MDGs in the development of all policy documents (Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper PRSP) and National Policy Documents.
Establish mechanisms/ coordination frameworks / effective consultation integrating multisectoral actions al all levels of the health pyramid.
Build capacity and skills of operational level teams in developing and implementing health programs.
And monitor and evaluate multisectoral actions aimed at achieving the MDGs.
ACC EXPOSED AGAIN
The conviction on Monday of the Executive Director of the Sierra Leone Maritime Administration (SLMA) Philip Lukulay spelt another disaster for the Anti Corruption Commissioner and his team. This time around out of a one hundred and ninety four (194) count indictment charges levied against Mr. Lukulay by the ACC only thirteen were found tenable.
Mr. Philip Lukulay was charged by the Anti-Corruption Commission on charges including indictment for wilfully failing to comply with rules and regulations relating to the management of public funds, misappropriation and conspiracy.
He was barely convicted of twelve (12) counts of misappropriation of public funds and one (1) count of failing to comply with a requirement under the Anti-Corruption Act 2008 by the High Court of Sierra Leone.
The Hon. Justice Browne-Marke fined the accused a total of One Hundred and Twenty Five Million Leones (Le125, 000,000) and ordered him to repay the misappropriated sum of One Hundred and Thirty Nine Million Four Hundred and Seventy Eight Thousand Leones (Le 139, 478,000) into court within four weeks.
The state was represented by Reginald Sydney Fynn Jr. and Miatta Samba Esq. whilst the accused was represented by Emmanuel E.C Shears Moses Esq. and Solomon Jamiru Esq.
It could be recalled that a fortnight ago the NRA boss Alieu Sesay who was charged by the same ACC on 57 counts. Mr Sesay walked triumphantly out of court with all charges waived.
This recent spate of rulings that do not favour the ACC has caused most Sierra Leoneans to wonder whether it is in fact necessary to have an Anti Corruption Commission especially when the Commissioner takes home a whooping Le48M monthly.
The theme of the programme was Attaining the Millennium Development Goal (MDGs), the challenge of Multisectoral Approach. The celebration brought together stakeholders from all sectors of the society.
In his address the Chairman of the event Dr. Samuel Kargbo said the organization was born due to the misunderstanding of the English and French speaking countries in addressing health issues in the West African region. He said WAHO is a collection of 15 West Africa countries that came together to help achieve the MDGs.
He emphasized that the MDG’s will not be achieved if the country continues to get bad roads as bad roads lead to health problem among other things. “We will not achieve the MDG’s if we continue to have bad roads in the country. We need to look at all area related to health and bring other sectors who are professional in their own areas to help us achieve the MDG’s.” he said.
Country Director Helen Keller International Dr. Mary Hodges said the last decade has been significant progress in the MDG’s in Sierra Leone. “The health ministry has made great progress. I am sure we are on target of the MDGs, “
Her speech continue “If SL has managed to more than half the U5M from in just 5 years reaching its MDG # 4 by 2015 seems within reach with continued sustained action.
However the success of the MOH&S moves the MD “goal posts’ for other Ministries in the GoSL
As child mortality rapidly falls the school aged population requiring education rises and the population requiring food and ultimately employment correspondingly increases. These are serious challenges in the provision of education, food and jobs.
Plans and budget created by Ministries based upon population projections upon the 2004 National Census will need to be revisited with this changed demographic in mind.
The MEST will have a greater than projected school aged population for which to achieve provide universal primary education MDG# 2.
The MTI and MA Forestry and Fisheries will have a greater than projected population to fed and employ and met: eradication of extreme poverty and hunger MDG # 1.
The negative impact of not meeting the Moving MDGs 1 and 2: feeding and employing this increased population could result in instability.
When U5MRs fall the demand for family planning counseling and provision rises as families realize less pregnancies are required for the desired family size. The integration of these Family planning facilities into routine under five care as being piloted in the WA with MOH&S and HKI.
A routine ‘EPI’ type appointment has been allocated in the new child health cards to encourage the mother and the health care provider to keep an appointment when the infant reaches 6 month of age for VAS. During this visit FP counseling and provision of commodities could be routinely provided. This intervention could be scaled up to national coverage in 2012 with support from partners after the results of the pilot scheme are available.
The MEST will be challenged to met the primary school placements for this rapidly increased school aged population which is evident everywhere you look in SL. New schools, more primary school teachers, more teacher training facilities, more salaries, more materials all will be required as the MD ‘goal posts’ are moved for MDG #2 provision of universal primary education a result of success in MDG #4 reduced child mortality.
To my colleague NGOs, we need to renew our focus in supporting the GoSL meet these moving MDGs.
No one agency can do everything, everywhere and still do it well. We have to focus our efforts where we have our niche and comparative advantage for greatest impact to avoid duplication and inefficiencies.”
Dr. Charles Mugero of the World Health Organisation said there is a need for stakeholders to revisit their commitment and for them to take stock of where they are. He pointed out that, 114 countries heads of state signed the MDGs in 2001. “We cannot achieve health alone but to increase government and partners’ awareness,” he said.
Deputy Minister of Health Tamba Bobor Sawyer read the statement of the Director General of WAHO Dr. Placido M. Cardoso, in the statement “July 9, 1987 – July 9, 2011, 24 years ago, Heads of State and Government of the West Africa region convinced of the benefits of federating efforts and differences in our region adopted the protocol establishing the West African Health Organisation.”
The statement went on to say that WAHO, a specialized institution of ECOWAS on health issues, was born of the merger between the Francophone organization for cooperation and cooperation for Major Endemic Disease Control (OCCGE) and the Anglophone West African Health Community (WAHC). Its mission is to serve all fifteen member states of ECOWAS in the field of health by transcending language barriers in the region.
“We have already embarked upon the last five years leading to the due date of the MDGs. In fact, it is becoming urgent to reflect on the achievement of these global commitments by 2015. Progress has been made in most of the 189 signatory States who committed themselves to achieving these goals. However, Africa in general and West Africa in particular, may not achieve most of these goals,” he said.
“Moreover, how can we make the health system efficient without other development sector such as: communication, education, public works and planning of the private sector?” he asked.
However four key actions were added by the Director General as ways to address the challenges:
Address the MDGs in the development of all policy documents (Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper PRSP) and National Policy Documents.
Establish mechanisms/ coordination frameworks / effective consultation integrating multisectoral actions al all levels of the health pyramid.
Build capacity and skills of operational level teams in developing and implementing health programs.
And monitor and evaluate multisectoral actions aimed at achieving the MDGs.
ACC EXPOSED AGAIN
The conviction on Monday of the Executive Director of the Sierra Leone Maritime Administration (SLMA) Philip Lukulay spelt another disaster for the Anti Corruption Commissioner and his team. This time around out of a one hundred and ninety four (194) count indictment charges levied against Mr. Lukulay by the ACC only thirteen were found tenable.
Mr. Philip Lukulay was charged by the Anti-Corruption Commission on charges including indictment for wilfully failing to comply with rules and regulations relating to the management of public funds, misappropriation and conspiracy.
He was barely convicted of twelve (12) counts of misappropriation of public funds and one (1) count of failing to comply with a requirement under the Anti-Corruption Act 2008 by the High Court of Sierra Leone.
The Hon. Justice Browne-Marke fined the accused a total of One Hundred and Twenty Five Million Leones (Le125, 000,000) and ordered him to repay the misappropriated sum of One Hundred and Thirty Nine Million Four Hundred and Seventy Eight Thousand Leones (Le 139, 478,000) into court within four weeks.
The state was represented by Reginald Sydney Fynn Jr. and Miatta Samba Esq. whilst the accused was represented by Emmanuel E.C Shears Moses Esq. and Solomon Jamiru Esq.
It could be recalled that a fortnight ago the NRA boss Alieu Sesay who was charged by the same ACC on 57 counts. Mr Sesay walked triumphantly out of court with all charges waived.
This recent spate of rulings that do not favour the ACC has caused most Sierra Leoneans to wonder whether it is in fact necessary to have an Anti Corruption Commission especially when the Commissioner takes home a whooping Le48M monthly.
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