By Lemuella Tarawallie
UNICEF, with supports from the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation (BMZ) and the German International Cooperation (GIZ), has handed over 56 laptops and 26 modems, valued over US$100,000, to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation.
The aim of the donation is for UNICEF and its German partners to develop the National Digital Health Roadmap to accelerate progress towards the SDGs, targeting the transformation of Newborn and Child Health Care Services in Sierra Leone.
UNICEF’s Country Representative, Rudolf Schwenk while handing over the laptops and modems to the Deputy Minister of Health, revealed that the items, which followed the donation of 50 laptops funded by UNICEF last year, would contribute to improve vaccine and data management at Primary Health facilities in Bonthe, Karene, Kailahun, and Koinadugu Districts.
Rudolf Schwenk stated that the 56 laptops and 26 modems would be instrumental in laying the groundwork for advancing case-base electronic registries standardization to improve health for children and women countrywide.
He extended gratitude to the German Federation Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur International Zusammenabeit (GIZ) for their valuable assistance in advancing the SDGs agenda and UNICEF’s efforts towards health improvement and advancement of children.
The Head of Cooperation at the German Embassy, Johannes Behrens in his statement, said that during COVID the need for digitalization became apparent to spread correct information to identify and contain zones where the virus could spread and affect the ones most vulnerable to it. “So, it is in that light that Germany partnered with UNICEF to further enhance the condition in Sierra Leone for a better environment to ensure a quick and structured response in the regional environment and to also make health workers find better conditions not only to protect people but also themselves”, he stated.
Johannes Behrens noted that he was sure that this donation would help the people of Sierra Leone towards the achievement of health services for them to not only survive but to thrive.
The Deputy CMO Clinical, Dr Mustapha Kabba, stated that as a Ministry they were delighted to receive this kind gesture from GIZ and UNICEF to support innovation and digital road map which his Ministry had developed. He disclosed that the Ministry’s intention was to really digitize all their health facilities, not only for vaccination services but for patients care.
Dr Kabba said the Ministry of Health and Sanitation was really pleased with the donated items and that they would ensure that items would be utilized for the people of Sierra Leone and for their intended purposes.
The Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr Charles Senessie while receiving the 56 laptops and 26 modems, stated that what UNICEF and GIZ had donated fit into the Ministry’s general plan in terms of improving the quality of health care in the country.
Dr Charles Senessie noted that, “I think the future for health care delivery system in Sierra Leone is bright because our development partners have continue to give the necessary supports to the Health Ministry.”