By Ramatoulie Jawo
The National Assembly member for Kiang West constituency, Honourable Lamin Ceesay, has on Monday called on the Health Minister to explain to the legislative body how his ministry spent funds allocated to them by the 5th Legislature.
“It was crazy hearing His Excellency President Barrow during his speech on Thursday said that the major achievement of the Ministry of Health is the introduction of the National Health Insurance Scheme, which is currently in progress,” he stated.
Honorable Ceesay lamented that while the President was delivering his State of the Nation address at the National Assembly, patients at the country’s main hospital and other major health centers didn’t have access to adequate water and electricity supply.
“There was no water at the hospital. Kids died at the health centre on that very day, due to lack of water and electricity. Women gave birth, and it was difficult for healthcare workers to get water to clean them and their newborn babies,” he stressed.
The Kiang West parliamentarian added that when Covid-19 struck, the 5th Legislature convened, debated, and allocated D500,000,000 to the Health Ministry for its Covid-19 response. And the allocated funds were all spent.
“So, I think the Department of Health should come back to the National Assembly and give us a status report on the achievements they have made with the funds that were allocated to them.” He said.
Honorable Ceesay said that the only major health centre in his constituency, is the Karantaba Health Center, which serves more than 10 satellite communities and villages.
“When a woman delivers a baby at Karantaba Health Center, the caregivers at the facility struggle to have water to cleanse the mothers and their newborn babies,” he said.
Honourable Lamin Ceesay made these remarks earlier on Monday during the Third Ordinary session, while debating on the State Of Nation Address 2022 by President Barrow.