As a strategic development partner in the country, Africell Mobile Company on Thursday 17th April 2022, has officially demonstrated its continuing support towards the health sector and the National Health Summit that will be held on the 7th, 8th and 9th April this year.
The summit will be organized by the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Health and Sanitation.
This assurance by made by the Managing Director of Africell, Mr. Shadi Gerjawi at the Weekly Government Press Briefing organized at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Information and Communications.
According to the Managing Director of Africell, they are particularly attracted to the theme of this year’s health summit, which is “Transforming Health Care Delivery Towards Universal Health Coverage”. Mr. Shadi added by emphasizing that they were driven by the quest to ensure that communication is accessible to the most remote communities in the country. Mr. Shadi went on to say that Africell is a strategic development partner that has provided the requisite tools which the Ministry of Health and Sanitation has utilized to save lives.
“Africell is supporting health as a key pillar,” adding, this is why they were amongst the first responders to provide the much needed support when an emergency occurs in the country such as the November 5th Tanker Explosion that claimed the lives of many people at PMB Junction, where they provided food and medical supplies to victims. In providing access to communication and Universal Coverage, he said that Africell Mobile Company is involved in an extensive coverage expansion drive connecting thousands of communities nationwide. He continued by stating that these communities when connected will be able to seek health-related information by calling Community Health Centers.
“Few years ago when we connected the Bafodea District and its surrounding, a chief told us that getting information to families in Bofodea was costly,” said Mr. Shadi, adding that they had to secure funds for messenger, find an okada rider that is willing to embark on the journey and determine when the journey will commence. He added that every week they ensure that the underserved and unserved areas be on boarded Africell’s network and connected internally and to other parts of the world, adding that this expansions will also mean digital financial inclusivity.
“The Government of Sierra Leone and development partners can eliminate fraud and ghost beneficiaries among the service delivery infrastructure by utilizing the afrimoney platform to pay their workforce or beneficiaries. He added that as the Ministry of Health and Sanitation work towards transforming health care delivery towards universal health coverage, they believe that it is important to note that as a private sector partner, their expansion cannot be done in isolation. He added that Africell Mobile Company has invested in fiber infrastructure. he went on to say that they are now on advance stage to ensure that their customer enjoying fixed-line internet to their homes and establishment. On the IT front, he said that they will be building the biggest data center infrastructure in Sierra Leone soon, adding that this will cater to and host hundreds of servers in a safe and secured environment. He went on to say that Africell will continue to lead with seamless transformation, prompt delivery and unsegregated access to their services through Universal Coverage. He concluded by assuring that the general public including the Ministry of Health and Sanitation should count on Africell for technical and branding support before and during the Health Summit.
The Ministry of Health and Sanitation, delivering the keynote address said that health care is very important to all and it is essential in the quest to make Sierra Leone enviable. He thanked health care workers that are working in remote areas in support of health service delivery. He added that the purpose of the health summit is to transform the health service delivery in meeting the Universal Health Coverage. He said that they are expecting all Sierra Leoneans to support the process in strengthening the health care delivery. He added that successful assessment was conducted and it has indicted that maternal mortality and infant mortality rates have been reduced. He said that according to the nation’s vision, a lot needs to be done. He said that the universal health coverage makes it clearer that no one should be left behind. He went on to say that they are no longer looking at diseases but outcomes in accordance with the Global goals that are set up for 2030. He said that the summit will bring international partners onboard to assist with concrete actionable steps. He continued by saying that the summit will be done together with an award ceremony to recognize those that are contributing immensely in support of service delivery and leadership in the health outcomes. At the end, it will help the ministry to prioritize and coordinate its activities well in meeting the Universal Health Coverage and health outcomes. He disclosed that the conference will be held in Freetown. He recognized the support of Africell Mobile Company and others in the health service delivery and he officially launched the Sierra Leone National Health Summit.
Speaking on behalf of members of the Civil Society, Mr. Charles Mambu applauded the Ministry for the initiative but he stressed government must do more to employ health workers that have sacrificed a lot in serving the country. He added by calling on the Ministry to make sure that the Summit is people centered and allow Sierra Leoneans to tell their stories.
