Orange Sierra Leone Supports the digitalization of Njala University Hospital

By:  Alhaji Umaru Gbow

Sierra Leone's leading telecommunications service provider, Orange Sierra Leone has on Friday 11th June provided support towards the digitalization of the Njala University hospital at Njala Mokonde.

A team lead by Mr. Desmond Spaine, Orange Sierra Leone’s Foundation Manager, and Kamal Abass Corporate Social Responsibility Manager donated desk top computers, printers colored printer ink cartridges, paper box files, and duplicating papers to the hospital.

The team paid a courtesy call to the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Osman Sankoh aka Mallam O. at his Office at the University Secretariat, Njala Campus, and briefed him on the donation and the contributions of Orange Sierra Leone to His Excellency’s Free Quality Education scheme.

They assured the Vice-Chancellor that they are open to further supporting the institution to effectively contribute to nation-building.

Mallam O. while responding noted that Orange Sierra Leone is a household name in the telecommunications business and that he was happy that they are supporting his institution. He encouraged them to do more to support the vision of his administration to strengthen the ICT infrastructure across its campuses.

He praised the exuberance of the ICT Director, Mr. Thomas Phillip Songu whom he referred to as a goodwill ambassador who has always been knocking on the doors of the private sector to make things happen for Njala University.

At the Official presentation at the Njala University hospital the Orange Sierra Leone Foundation Manager, Desmond Spaine gave a background to the donation noting that this was made possible by the tireless efforts of the Director-General of the National Telecommunications Commission, Mr.Daniel Kaitibie who according to him had Njala very close to his heart.

He reiterated the contributions of Orange Sierra Leone to education, maternal mortality rate-related interventions, sanitation, health, women’s empowerment, and several others.

The CSR Manager, Mr.Kamal Abass noted that he has just taken over as CSR manager but that he intends to learn from the footprints of his brother Mr.Spaine to sustain the current gains and also do more to make Orange Sierra Leone a leader in CSR.

The ICT Director, Mr. Songu was also full of praise for the NATCOM Director-General and Orange Sierra Leone for the gesture and appealed for other forms of support towards the ongoing efforts to digitalize the hospital and to also strengthen internet connectivity at Njala University.

He encouraged Orange Sierra Leone to closely involve the public university’s in their drive to digitalize the schools as they are tasked with the training of teachers that will eventually roll out these innovations to the children.

Senior Medical Officer, Njala University hospital, Dr. Mohamed Koker thanked Orange Sierra Leone and the Director-General of NATCOM for the donation and gave a brief background to the digitalization of the hospital which according to him is part of the research project of Messers Kaitibie and Aziz Yokie who are currently pursuing Ph.D. programs at the University of Illinois in Health Information systems.

He took the team on a conducted tour of the hospital which is struggling to put up a maternal mortality health wing with all its accompanying units and appealed for support to Orange Sierra Leone.

The Njala University hospital was constructed in the ’60s as a teaching and research hospital and to date, it remains the second referral hospital in the Moyamba District after the Moyamba Government hospital.

Even though it has the requisite infrastructure and staffing it lacks the wherewithal as its various units such as its dispensary, laboratory, pharmacy, maternity ward are without the equipment and drugs to serve Njala University and the immediate environs.

The Administration is turning to the private sector to support the hospital to be able to provide the much-needed services.

Orange Sierra Leone is on record for contributing hugely to almost all the critical sectors in Sierra Leone. They have a very enviable Corporate Social Responsibility posture across Sierra Leone that is unmatched.

This is coupled with a very ambitious expansion plan which has taken internet connectivity and financial services (Orange Money) to very remote areas in Sierra Leone.

For more enquiries, contact the Public Relations Office, Njala University on +23276336213/+23276245292/Email:[email protected] /[email protected]