First Lady Receives UNPFA Ambulance

Concord Times (Freetown)

8 June 2011

Freetown — The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has donated an ambulance to the office of the First Lady to support the Women’s Initiative for Safer Health (WISH).

The ambulance will be used at the Mattru Jong hospital in the Bonthe district for emergency obstetrics care to save the lives of pregnant women.

Since the launch of the Campaign to Accelerate the Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa- Sierra Leone (CARMMA) project and the free healthcare scheme for pregnant women, lactating mothers and children under-five years in 2010, the office of the First Lady has incessantly intensified efforts to enhance the health of women.

The donation of the ambulance by UNFPA to support her efforts was coming at a time when the office of the First Lady was spearheading several efforts to reduce maternal mortality nationwide.

Presenting the ambulance, the UNFPA Country Representative, Madam Ratidzai Ndlovu commended the First Lady for a job well done in targeting pregnant women and lactating mothers and underscored that the ambulance would be used to enhance the Obstetric Care Unit of the Mattru Jong hospital.

She also lauded the establishment of the Health Insurance Scheme in surrounding communities and the provision of baby packs in the hospital.

Responding, Madam Sia Nyama Koroma acclaimed UNFPA for supporting her office to address the welfare of women countrywide. Receiving the keys to the ambulance, the First Lady reiterated the timeliness of the gesture that cannot be overemphasized.

In another development, Madam Koroma has donated lab desks to primary school pupils in various parts of the country to support their learning process. Thirteen primary schools benefited from the donation.

She appealed to the pupils to take good care of the lab desks that would help them to learn about other countries, especially South Africa and Australia that donated the items.

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