Social Welfare and Health Ministries Commission New Health and WASH Facilities in Port Loko.

The Ministry of Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and development partners, officially commissioned new Health and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities at the Mamankie Community Health Centre.

Funded by the Post-Ebola Recovery Social Investment Fund (PERSIF) through the African Development Bank (AfDB), the project marks a major milestone in strengthening Sierra Leone’s public health system.

District chairmen from the five beneficiary districts—Port Loko, Bombali, Kenema, Kailahun, and Western Rural—attended the ceremony, underscoring the national importance of the project.

In his welcome address, Paramount Chief Bia Sheborah N. Gerah III expressed gratitude to the Government and AfDB, noting that Port Loko’s selection among sixteen districts was a blessing for the community.

Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Charles Senessie, connected the initiative to lessons from the Ebola outbreak and highlighted government’s continued investment in human capital, including the recruitment of over 8,000 nurses and plans to hire 3,000 more.

He emphasized the President’s commitment to building systems capable of preventing future pandemics.

Representing the AfDB, Mr. Tapera J. Murira outlined the Bank’s $19 million investment in national recovery; the project’s broader achievements which hw said include:

Construction of 240 WASH facilities across five districts;

Training of over 500 health workers in disease prevention and control;

Training of more than 200 social workers; and

Scholarships for over 100 students at Njala University

Mr. Murira expressed confidence that the new facilities would serve communities for generations.

Giving the Keynote address, the Minister of Social Welfare, Mrs. Melrose Karminty, honored those who died during the Ebola crisis and credited the project’s success to strong national collaboration and AfDB partnership.

She noted that persistent advocacy ensured Sierra Leone remained part of the originally multi-country initiative.

“This success is a testament to what we can achieve when we unite beyond political lines,” she stated, emphasizing that the new centre would greatly benefit women and children who previously traveled long distances for maternal healthcare.

The event concluded with the official handing over of the facility to the Ministry of Health, which will oversee its operations, while the Ministry of Social Welfare will monitor sustainability.

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Abu Bakarr Sama

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