MOHS, Njala University Hands over Brand New Health Facility to the People of Kori Chiefdom

By: Alhaji Umaru Gbow

Credit: Public Relations Unit, Njala University

Mokaba Village, Kori Chiefdom, Tiama- 22nd April, 2022- The Ministry of Health and Sanitation and Njala University has on Friday 22nd April 2022 handed over a brand new health facility dubbed the Madam Yoko Trauma Centre and Han Medical Centre to the People of Kori Chiefdom, Moyamba District.

The facility was built with funds from the Korean Medical Peace Foundation of South Korea through the efforts of His Excellency Ambassador Kathos Gibao Matia, Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to South Korea.

Njala University and the Ministry of Health and Sanitation signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2020 for the construction of the facility. The University according to the MOU was to undertake the construction on behalf of the Korean Medical Peace Foundation and the Government of Sierra Leone.

The University commenced the work in 2020 after several bottlenecks issues but was able to bring the project to fruition with the support of the people of Mokaba village and Kori Chiefdom as a whole a year later.

At the Official handing over and commissioning on Friday 22nd April 2022 Paramount Chief of Kori Chiefdom, P.C. Borbor Gbappie the IV while welcoming the dignitaries from the Government and Njala University lauded the former Pro-Chancellor of Njala University, Professor Bob Kandeh for initiating the construction works and also thanked Njala University and Ambassador Kathos for considering to build such a facility in his Chiefdom.

Professor Andrew Baimba, Acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Njala University thanked Ambassador Matai for the initiative which according to him was in line with His Excellency’s second flagship Health program.

He assured the Ministry of Health and the People of Kori Chiefdom that even though the University is handing over the completed facility they would still be complementing its sustainability in several ways.  

Deputy Minister of Health, Madam Agnes Dugbah thanked Ambassador Matia and praised the bilateral relations between the Republic of South Korea and Sierra Leone which spans as far back as 1962 leading to the establishment of a Permanent Mission in Seoul, South Korea in 2013.

She noted that Government was aware of the devastating consequences of COVID-19 on its people and is therefore working assiduously to improve the country’s health sector.

Madam Dugbah further assured Ambassador Kathos and the Njala University Administration that the Ministry would sustain the efforts of the Korean Medical Peace Foundation by providing staff and medical equipment to manage the hospital and called on the people of Kori Chiefdom to take ownership of the facility.

District Medical Officer, Moyamba while giving the vote of thanks provided statistics on accident cases in the District for 2020 and 2021 and hinted that it was very justifiable for the provision of such a facility on the highway between Mokaba and Tiama which according to him has four of the most accident-prone chiefdoms in Moyamba District. 

The climax of the event was the touring and commissioning of the facility and the pouring of libation by the Community stakeholders.

For further enquiries, Contact the Public Relations Office at [email protected] or on phone at +23276336213/030317197.