A two-day workshop on Malaria and Coronavirus pandemic for Members of Parliament slated for Friday 15th and Monday 18th May 2020 respectively has ended in Freetown. The event which was conducted at the Committee Room One in Parliament attracted several Members of Parliament in light of taking leadership roles on sensitizing their constituents on Malaria, amidst the current deadly pandemic coronavirus. The event was facilitated by the Ministry Of Health and Sanitation with support from donor partners.
Speaker on behalf of the Speaker of Parliament and the entire leadership of Parliament, the Chairman for THE Parliamentary on Committee on Health and Sanitation, Hon Mose Baimba Jorkie said the campaign on the mass distribution of the Integrated Long Lasting Malaria Bed Net was timely and crucial. “The distribution will help to fight against the Malaria disease” he stated adding that the house to house sensitization on the COVID-19 is very necessary and will prevent both disease. He noted that Members of Parliament have very important role to play in curtailing community transmission of the deadly coronavirus pointing out that the campaign was timely. “I encourage all Members of Parliament to listen to various presentations in order to take the messages to their constituencies” he informed.
He said it has been alleged that some of their constituents were misusing the malaria prevention bed-net for fishing, washing and other contrary activities but hopefully with the intervention of MPs in the mass campaign the narrative will change.
The Chairman said Malaria has had very negative impact on women and children and further inform that COVID-19 has exacerbated the situation. He used the opportunity to ask the Ministry of Health and Sanitation to incorporate MPs into the campaign against both diseases as according to him, they were left behind.
In his statement, the Deputy Minister One of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Anthony Augustine Sandi said his Government and Leadership of the President Bio’s New Direction were very concerned and ready to deliver quality health with support of donor partners. He commended all the donor partners that funded the mass distribution programme.
He said they were on the right track in the fight against malaria even though it has a high global risk and devastating impact, causing much death. The Deputy Minister informed that for over past 2 decades, Sierra Leone has done so much in the fight against Malaria and the government will not let go that glory. “As a responsible government we are committed to controlling Malaria admits the observation of the COVID-19 Protocols” he assured.
Several presentations were made on Mass Distribution Campaign, Integrated COVID-19 Prevention, Update on Current Status of COVID-19 Pandemic, the Roles of Honourable Members of Parliament to achieve a successful campaign
Comments and questions from Members of Parliament and responses from experts climax the event.