By Foday Moriba Conteh
In a significant move during the Ministry of Health’s 2024 budget proposal hearing on Monday, October 16, 2023, held at the Ministry of Finance Conference Hall on George Street, Freetown, Health Alert Sierra Leone and the RMNCAH+N Coalition (TAAC) urgently appealed to the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health.
Dr. Victor Lansana Koroma, the Executive Director of Health Alert Sierra Leone, expressed his concern regarding the Government’s commitments to family planning including the provision of a dedicated 1% budget line for family planning in order to mitigate teenage pregnancy, HIV and early marriage for a healthier future.
He highlighted the Compact Agreement signed with UNFPA in February 2022, mandating the Government to allocate 1% of its contribution (amounting to $12,000 USD) for the procurement of Family Planning commodities and essential drugs related to Reproductive and Maternal Health for the Ministry of Health and Sanitation.
Dr. Koroma stressed the importance of domestic financing for healthcare and pointed out that a strategy for local revenue generation to support health is lacking in the country further calling upon the Government to enhance domestic revenue mobilization and financing to bolster healthcare delivery in Sierra Leone.
He emphasized that other commitments must be fulfilled by the Government saying such include achieving the 15% Abuja Target for Health, honouring the FP 2030 commitment, increasing investment in family planning and sexual reproductive health, allocating additional funding to reduce infant and maternal mortality rates, strengthening health security, improving access to vaccines and enhancing the response to health emergencies.
Dr. Koroma underlined that fulfilling these commitments is a crucial step towards improving public health, empowering communities and creating a brighter and healthier future for all Sierra Leoneans.
He also appealed to the Ministry of Finance to approve the requested sum of 202.993 billion Leones by the Ministry of Health in their 2024 budget and also assured that once the funds are approved they will ensure diligent monitoring of their implementation for the benefit of all Sierra Leoneans.
