Mothers Forced to Wash in the Open
By Ishmail Saidu Kanu
The 2024 Auditor General’s Report by Audit Service Sierra Leone has uncovered serious operational, financial and staffing challenges at Rokupa Maternal and Child Health Hospital.
The report states that there was no running water in the labour ward for nurses, midwives and mothers to clean themselves after delivery.
As a result, patients had to wash downstairs in the open using water brought from their homes.
Auditors also observed that there was only one delivery kit available in the ward, making it difficult for staff to handle multiple delivery cases and increasing the risk of maternal deaths.
In addition, the ward lacked sterilisation equipment, exposing both nurses and patients to possible infections.
In the ante-natal and post-natal wards, auditors found seating constraints that led to overcrowding and delays for patients waiting to see doctors.
There was also an inadequate supply of bed nets and anti-malaria drugs for pregnant women. Out of 14 beds in the ward, only two drip stands were available.
The hospital was also reported to be lacking adequate medical equipment for the examination and screening of patients.
The medical wards were similarly affected by shortages. The auditors noted an inadequate supply of drugs and faulty beds, some of which lacked rails to prevent patients from falling.
Essential items such as weighing scales, gloves, dressing materials and examination beds were either in short supply or not available.
Basic supplies including bedding, towels, blankets, buckets, soaps and bin liners were also insufficient.
The report further revealed that the hospital often received less than 50 percent of the emergency drugs it requested from the National Medical Supply Agency, a situation described as jeopardising the wellbeing and recovery of patients.
Financial irregularities were also identified as revenue amounting to NLe309,700 collected from bed fees and assault cases during the period under review was neither recorded in the hospital’s revenue ledger nor deposited into its bank accounts.
Auditors stated that there was no evidence showing how the money was used.
On staffing, the report disclosed that 25 pin-coded nurses failed to present themselves for physical verification, despite salaries totaling NLe431,629 being paid to them.
Auditors also observed that there were no porters assigned to the labour ward, forcing nurses to take on porter duties in addition to their clinical responsibilities.
The Auditor General recommended that the Medical Superintendent, the Chief Medical Officer and the Permanent Secretary take immediate steps to address the challenges in order to improve efficient and effective healthcare service delivery at the facility.
