By Hassan Gbassay Koroma
Last Friday, Orange Telecoms donated desktop computers to the newly inaugurated President Julius Maada Bio Pediatric Centre of Excellence Hospital at Regent Road, Lumley. The initiative aims to support the digitalization of the hospital.
Sekou Amadou Bah, Chief Executive Officer of Orange Sierra Leone, highlighted that this donation is part of Orange’s ongoing collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation to enhance healthcare facilities and administration in the country. He emphasized that such contributions are among the many ways Orange gives back to local communities and pledged further support to promote development in Sierra Leone.
Dr. Assiatu Mustapha, Medical Superintendent of the hospital, explained that the facility, built and equipped by the people of Japan, has 142 beds and various units dedicated to children.
Dr. Bell, Head of Development and Research, underscored the importance of the hospital, noting that it also serves as a training center for undergraduate and postgraduate medical doctors. She mentioned that the facility is equipped with modern equipment and will function as a referral hospital for emergency cases.
Dr. Francis Smart, Director of Policy, Planning, and Information, stated that healthcare delivery is a top priority. He emphasized the need for internet access across approximately 1,600 government healthcare facilities in the country to ensure quality data collection.
He noted that the mission of the Minister of Health is to provide access to healthcare for everyone in Sierra Leone, and the use of technology is crucial to achieving this goal. The donation from Orange is a significant step towards this vision.
Dr. Smart also mentioned that the facility requires around 76 laptops, 19 tablets, and 6 desktops for efficient operation.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr. Mustapha Kabba expressed the Ministry of Health’s appreciation for the donation, acknowledging Orange as a consistent supporter of the ministry’s initiatives.
He highlighted the importance of digitizing healthcare facilities to improve services and save lives, stating that it is now imperative for the ministry to digitize all health facilities across the country.
