By Ragan M. Conteh

In a passionate and detailed address in Parliament, Hon. Dr. Unpha Sorie Koroma, a second-term Member of Parliament representing the opposition All People’s Congress (APC), has called for urgent and strategic reforms to revamp Sierra Leone’s healthcare system, emphasizing the critical role of community engagement and proper funding.

Addressing Speaker of Parliament and other leaders in a recent session of Parliament, Hon. Koroma expressed gratitude for allowing discussions on the health issues affecting Sierra Leoneans. He lamented that while public attention has been drawn to the rising cases of Monkey Pox (Mpox) particularly in the Western Area efforts to raise community awareness and preparedness remain inadequate.

“We should have done much more in terms of awareness in our communities,” he stated. “Vaccines alone cannot save us. Communities have to be engaged, and the Ministry of Health, along with its agencies, must take the fight to the people,” he added.

Hon. Koroma raised concerns about the rising number of cases and questioned the state of preparedness in terms of surveillance, case management, and laboratory support. He cited a past initiative, funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Howard University, aimed at setting up strategically located laboratories across the country-an initiative inspired by lessons from the Ebola and COVID-19 pandemics. He demanded clarity on the status of this project and whether it had stalled under the current administration.

He also referenced the National Emergency Medical System initiated by the previous government, a project aimed at training first responders across the country. “That was a brilliant project,” he said. “But my investigations suggest the funding agency may be pulling out due to challenges in supporting foreign staff. What is the current state of that support?”

Hon. Koroma raised further questions about the use of critical infrastructure like the 400-bed care center at Hastings and whether the proposed hospital at Sumaila Street in Calaba town is operational. He emphasized that healthcare workers and immune compromised individuals must be prioritized in vaccination programmes but warned that vaccines take time to become fully effective and do not provide instant protection.

“The vaccine is a step in the right direction, but it will not prevent infection. We must educate our people better about prevention and how the vaccine works,” he stressed.

On healthcare funding, the MP criticized unfair comparisons between Sierra Leone and more developed countries, citing high costs and limited access to basic health services. He noted that despite increases in healthcare worker salaries, results remain poor. He stressed the need for investments in healthcare technology, but equally in the human capacity to operate and maintain it.

Recalling his own challenges in 2003 upon returning to Sierra Leone with a Doctorate in Pharmacy, Dr. Koroma highlighted the importance of training and recognizing local expertise. “Now we have more doctors in pharmacy, but it took time and support. We need the same level of commitment across all healthcare professions,” the medic insists.

He also touched on the disparities in healthcare access between MPs and ordinary citizens. “If we’re worried about sending MPs abroad for healthcare, what happens to the ordinary Sierra Leoneans who cannot even afford Paracetamol/Panadol? We must fix our system here, at home,” he added.

Concluding his address, Hon. Koroma stressed that healthcare should never be politicized. He proposed a national “prescription” that includes stronger governance, political will, and better healthcare financing, and redirecting proceeds from mineral investments into the health sector.

“When healthcare works, it speaks for itself. We don’t need to explain it. But when life expectancy in Sierra Leone is below 50, it’s clear our system is failing. We must act now—for everyone,” the lawmaker stated.

He thanked the leadership of Parliament once again but urged that much more needs to be done to ensure Sierra Leoneans have access to quality, affordable, and sustainable healthcare.