By: Karino Teah – karinoreah@gmail.com
SINOE COUNTY – Sinoe County Superintendent Peter Wleh Nyensuah has completed the first major tour of the entire county which acquainted him with the challenges facing both the local health sector and the infrastructure sector.
The tour gave Superintendent Nyensuah a first-hand understating of the challenges confronting the heath sector and roads across the entire county.
Accompanied by his team, the Superintendent observed with grave concern how deployable local healthcare facilities are and the current condition of internal road especially as the rains approach.
Health Sector Challenges
During the tour, Nyenswah visited public and private clinics across Sinoe County’s District 3 and parts of District 2 in Jedepo.
The local health sector complained of lots of challenges including lack of ambulances, limited access to essential drugs and medical equipment, and distances sick patients have to cover to get to the nearest health center.
At the Pyne Town Clinic in Waccaba District, health workers informed the Superintendent that due to the lack of ambulances, patients in critical condition are at risk before reaching the hospital. “In emergency cases, we struggle to transport patients. The distance and bad roads sometimes cost lives,” a nurse said.
“No essential drugs, no enough up-to-date equipment here at this hospital. So we are finding it difficult to deliver.” Another said.
Many of the local clinics and hospitals in Sinoe County are extremely far away from Greenville City where the only referral F.J. Grant Hospital is located – making it nearly impossible for the transfer of patients crucially ill due to lack of ambulances.
“In emergency cases, we struggle to transport patients. The distance and bad roads sometimes cost lives.” One of the nurses speaking randomly said.
Superintendent Nyenswah then assured health workers and local residents that his administration would engage the Ministry of Health to provide few ambulances to the Sinoe County Health Team.
He emphasized the need of improving emergency response which according to him is crucial to saving lives, especially in remote areas.
The Superintendent promised to work with the County Health Team to ensure that hard-to-reach clinics receive an adequate supply of medicines. “I am deeply concerned about the health situation in these districts,” Nyenswah said. “We cannot allow our people to suffer or lose their lives because of the lack of basic health services. I will do everything within my power to advocate for more support for our county health team.” He promised.
Bad Road Impedes Healthcare Delivery
One of the major challenges also undermining proper healthcare delivery is the pattern of bad roads across Sinoe County. Health workers in several parts of the county informed Liberia Excellent News Network that lots of patient in critical conditions died before reaching the nearest health center due to the deplorable conditions of roads in the county.
Interacting with Superintendent Nyensuah, many locals and health care workers stressed the need for the central government to make some quick interventions as the rains fast approach.
“Now that the rain is coming, all the roads here will be bad and we will have no other way to go anywhere even if you are sick. Mr. Superintendent, your please do something.” A resident Jedepo boldly said.
Superintendent Nyensuah promised to hold conversation with government sectors responsible from the county for some interventions especially in the area of road connectivity.
The Superintendent is hopeful his administration will be able to tackle some of the long standing challenges confronting the county while encouraging residents and healthcare workers to continue to hold on as he approaches central government about some of the challenge.
