By Hassan I. Conteh

A leading organization on health and development, SEND Sierra Leone, has released a new report on the very poor healthcare facilities across the country.

SEND issued out a Position Paper to the Government for its keen attention on the need to improving the health system in the country especially in rural communities.

The study covers six districts in the country with forty-four (44) public healthcare facilities targeted in these districts: Kailahun, Kenema, Falaba, Kono, PortLoko, and Pujehun.

The assessment shows how most hospitals are lacking standard roofings, electricity with torchlights used during pregnancy delivering periods and with lack of medicines and medical facilities.

Bintu Sia Gborie, Head of Programs, Health and Wash at SEND Sierra Leone, says “the goal of the study report is to urge government to deliver a more resilience, equitable, accessible and quality healthcare services to all citizens especially in rural areas.”

She talked of the challenges by hospitals across Sierra Leone especially the healthcare facilities in the six districts assessed by SEND.

“The key challenges identified are inadequate infrastructure, (the physical infrastructure of healthcare facilities in rural communities is in serious depreciation ranging from roofleaks, crambled walls, and overcrowded spaces that compromised the quality of care in patients’ privacy.”

The report further notes that 91 per cent of [health] facility managers who were visited during the assessment rated their infrastructure as poor. While about 65 per cent of the accessed facilities lacked access to ramps or handrails, making it difficult for persons with disabilities and the elderly to access the medical facilities.

The health research and advocacy group said such a damning situation violates global equitable healthcare access.

And that it also contributes to poor health outcomes for the vulnerable populations, such as the disabled and the elderly.

Joseph Ayamga, SEND Sierra Leone’s Country Director, described pictural evidence of health centres built with tarpaulins and mud bricks.

A number of pictures through slides of some very poor local health centers were shown to media journalists at a program held at SEND Sierra Leone’s new office at Spur Road in Freetown on Friday 15th November, 2024.

“80 per cent of those local care facilities lack crucial medical “antibiotics” and “painkillers” even for minor illnesses. All accessed districts lack manpower and trainings for healthcare givers to catch up with modern standards.”

“Even the peripheral health clinics are decorated but don’t have sometimes water and toilet facilities.”

He said though government is doing a lot on improving the health sector, “we still have a lot to do.”

SEND Sierra Leone has been operating in Kailahun district in Sierra Leone for over 10 years, said Mr Ayamga.

While its headquarters office is in Kenema town, SEND has officially opened a branch at 38A Spur Road in Freetown.