Health in "HEAL"

Health (Public Health & Healthcare (Cure)

Health care in Bong County, Electoral District #3 is in crisis. Citizens are waiting a long time for tests and surgeries, a single hospital in the district responsible to serve over 100,000 people is experiencing unexpected closures, lack of funds, and staff shortages are common. Drugs shortages are the norms of the day. The pandemic added significant pressure and exposed most of the challenges in the sector in the district and that is why Mr. Babajuah is running to be representative. We must take immediate action to stabilize the system and prevent further deterioration of services. It will take everyone working together and a leader who care for the people to bring about the changes that are urgently needed. People, money, technology and information are not connected in the ways they need to be to focus on the citizen and deliver better services to the people of district #3. Health care must evolve. 

There are many success stories to build upon, but this can only be done if there is a clear mission, open mindset, involvement of stakeholders and a better oversight/legislative leadership/political will. We will setup a very specific action areas and timelines for improvements. It will identify the most significant initial challenges that, when addressed, will ensure the stability of the system in the near-term, and positions further actions in the years ahead to heal the health-care system and support citizens in preventing disease and illness. Ultimately, the platform will be the foundation for building a healthier Bong County, Electoral District #3. Our platform will also identify the enablers of continuous improvement – fundamental operating practices surrounding people, technology, funding and governance – which must be fixed if there is to be real transformational change in Jorquelleh. 

This platform will be fast moving and achievable. It will require all stakeholders to be very deliberate about the direction and pace. Success will depend upon a new kind of collaboration now. Every community, health-care facility, volunteer, health-care professional, and department staff member has an important role to play – and this is the collective call to action we need to support and elect a people center leader, Samuel Babajuah. Significant action needs to be taken to build a health-care system that is citizen-focused, accessible, accountable, inclusive, and service-oriented for all citizens in Electoral District #3 – and it must start now.

H – Health in “HEAL” 

1. Public Health

We will establish a Research Center under the jurisdiction of the District Development Council (DDC) to work hands in hands with the District Surveillance Office/Bong County Health Team to keep surveillance on all priority diseases. 

a. Promoting Public Health through Pipe born water distribution - We will work with the District Development Council (DDC) to rehabilitate the water towel and connect it with Jor River to serve the Citizens with both clean and safe drinking water - hot water and cold water in the comfort of their home. Gbarnga has over 60 - 70,000 citizens; when we connect just 10,000 of that amounts and collect just collect US$2 from each monthly, we will raise US$20,000 and 240,000 yearly. This amount can pay workforce, expand service delivery and maintain the water plant. It will help in the fight against diarrhea, Cholera and many other respiratory waters borne diseases. 

b. Promoting Public Health through Waste management - Gbarnga City alone has 60 - 70 thousand inhabitants and it has more than 20,000 businesses are paying L$100 per day. When we work with the DDC and the City Government to target just the first 10,000 persons/businesses/households and collect just US$2 monthly, we will raise US$20,000 and make 240,000 yearly. This will also keep the city clean especially when we institute sense of community amongst the citizens. It will help in the fight against Malaria, diarrhea, Lassa fever, yellow fever, AFP, etc.

2. Healthcare (Cure)

We will work with our Colleagues to increase the health budget of the district’s and three (3) other districts’ only referral hospital. We hope to work with the DDC and the Bong County Health Team to introduce the Revolving Drugs Funds (RDF) to do away with the free health policy which even increasing burden on our people. We will work with our partners to invest in building a pharmaceutical company which will be the only pharmaceutical company in the country and second in the Mano River Union (MRU) Region. Mr. Babajuah will work with his colleagues to increase the CB Dunbar Hospital budget from $300,000 to at least $1.5 million in order to cater to the needs of the citizenry (over population). 

These principles will guide the work of our platform with all stakeholders. 

WITH CITIZENS FOR CITIZENS

Services are designed, implemented, delivered and reviewed with citizens. 

TRANSPARENCY

Citizens will understand public health services that are available to them at the local and County levels as well as those that are offered outside of the County. 

RAPID IMPROVEMENT FOCUS

Health-care system improvements will be done quickly without striving for perfection. 

A SYSTEM THAT IS CONNECTED

All services are linked to enable citizens to move from service to service with ease. 

THE RIGHT HEALTH CARE

Citizens will receive the right care at the right time at the right location by the right provider. 

INCLUSIVE

Citizens will experience an inclusive health-care system that respects differences, including official languages, culture, gender and sexual identity, age and ability.