Speeches of Former Amb. Chaveas

Koidu Government Hospital

AUGUST 27, 2003

REMARKS BY AMBASSADOR PETER R. CHAVEAS ON THE OCCASION OF THE OFFICIAL DEDICATION OF THE REFURBISHED KOIDU GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL

Almost two years ago, as the nightmare of Sierra Leone's decade long civil strife was drawing to a close, the U.S. Government considered how it might most effectively contribute to stabilizing the peace and to rebuilding a more prosperous Sierra Leone. We concluded that though there was great need everywhere, the most effective use of limited resources called for focus on specific areas of the country where the need was most acute. We chose to focus on the Koinadugu, Kailahun and Kono Districts.  The rehabilitation of the Koidu Hospital underlines our commitment to Kono.

Express satisfaction with the rehabilitation project:

• Rehabilitation of the surgical theatre
• Maternity ward
• Construction of the Under-5 Ward
• Rehabilitation of the women’s, men’s and outpatient facilities,
• Reconstruction of the dispensary and administrative offices
• General face-lift to the facility
• Soon: equipping with beds and bedding

Recognize Premiere Urgence, the NGO that supervised and contracted the work.

Recognize the professional medical staff and the community, for making the rehabilitation project a success.

Special thanks goes to Paramount Chiefs, community elders, women, youth and all the people of Kono district for the collaborative support for USAID programs in this district.

Appeal through the President to the MOH to provide the necessary staffing, administrative support, and supervision to enable the hospital to efficiently and effectively meet the medical needs of the people of Kono.

Appeal for Community involvementin the management of the hospital and in maintaining the facility to ensure that it is able to meet the needs of the community for many years to come.

The US commitment to the health and well being of Kono and the other districts where we have focused does not start nor finish with the Koidu Hospital. It started even before the war finished:

Through World Vision, the American people

• Rehabilitated and furnished 10 clinics and equipped with medical supplies and drugs.
• Revitalized Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) including mobile clinics to increase immunization coverage.
• Provided 20 clinics with Maternal Child Health (MCH) services including supplementary feeding for vulnerable groups to reduce morbidity and mortality.

Through MERLIN, the American people

• Constructed 40 wells; Rehabilitated 20 wells and facilitated the construction of 400 latrines in water and sanitation related hygiene promotion in PHU catchments areas.

Currently, IRC and CARE are supported with USAID funds to implement child survival programs in not just Kono, but also in Kailahun and Koinadugu districts.

Two months from now the Kailahun Government Hospital rehabilitation project will also be completed with USAID funds through IMC. Invite the President.

On behalf of the US Government and the American people, I formally hand over the newly rehabilitated Koidu Government Hospital to H.E. President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah for the people of Kono district.