Sierra Leone News: Ward 7 now Cardio-Renal Unit

Not until recently, when the dialysis unit was established at the Connaught hospital, Freetown’s main referral health facility, many Sierra Leoneans with cardiovascular or kidney problems had leave Sierra Leone for medical attention.
It affected all spheres of society, young, old, including the haves and have nots, and in most cases the have not’s had to suffer as a result of not having the required funds to seek medical attention, outside of the country.
The dialysis machines at the Connaught hospital were made possible by the Government and people of Israel. But it took a long time before the machines were installed by the specialist technicians.
Dr. Soccoh Kabia is Sierra Leone’s only kidney specialist and was facing some problems in the management of patient care who accessed the dialysis facility. It was for this reason the hospital management, through Dr. Fadlu-Deen wrote a letter of request to the International Office for Migration, Freetown, to assist with the refurbishment of a ward, which will be used as a cardio-renal unit for patients with heart and kidney problems.
According to the Head of Mission, IOM Sierra Leone, Alhaji Sanusi Savage, his office acted swiftly to respond to the request through its Diaspora Health Project, supported by the people and government of Japan, which targets peripheral and primary health care. All watsan and electrical facilities were repaired.” In addition, IOM also provided 12 beds for patients with screen, trollies, shelves and drawers and two oxygen cylinders.”
Health workers, who expressed delight over a long awaited dream, noting that Connaught is slowly matching up to standards, but their concerns were to ensure uninterrupted electricity at the hospital, in the case of the equipment used to monitor patients, including water shortages, which greatly affect the operations of the dialysis machines.
Dr. James Russell is the Head of Department for Internal Medicine at the University of Sierra Leone teaching hospital, commended the Ministry of Health and IOM for being proactive to establish the unit, which will be of immense help to young student doctors as well as the public who are in dire need for cardio-renal services, and cannot afford to seek outside treatment. He said the vision of the hospital is to see an improved health care delivery system that can be compared to others in the sub-region. “We are not yet there, but slowly and with collective efforts we will arrive”. “I can now breathe a sigh of relief, that the cardio-renal ward has been established”. First Lady Sia Koroma was part of history making in the health sector, as she explained why there was a need to ensure that people with heart or kidney problems, need not travel outside of the country, but can depend on a health service delivery that will provide them with the necessary care and management of their health condition. She added that ward 7 is the beginning to show case to the world that indeed there are qualified health workers in Sierra Leone, who with the right equipment can do the same as their counterparts elsewhere.” In addition to the refurbishment of the ward, Government has installed the appropriate equipment to monitor patient’s recovery rate and I want to assure that, even after leaving office, I will continue to be part of health sector, which I belong to”.
By Ade Campbell
Monday February 12, 2018.