Health Alert in collaboration with it partners on Friday 27th June 2025 concluded a one-day Quarterly National Family Planning Stock Review Meeting at the CHASL Conference room West of Freetown.
Giving an overview of the project, the Program Manager for Health Alert, Dalton John recalled how the project was secured while giving the project scope, operational areas partner they’ve collaborated with and the yielded impact.
He noted that Health Alert was established in 2009 and the organization is the lead convener for RMNCAH+N.
“We work with over 54 local civil society organizations, Community Based organization, and the media. We have implemented 3 projects on health emergency preparedness from 2004 to 2023. our focus is to now broaden the civil society engagement while strengthening leadership, advocacy and networks capacity for local civil societies organization to engage in adolescent and youth Family Planning policy advocacy and accountability engagement. Our work also promote health governance and social accountability,” he said.
The Program Manager said the project overview looks at increased demand for, and access to, high-quality, discrimination free ASRHR information and services.
“It also focuses on increased public sector willingness and capacity to deliver and sustain high-quality ASRHR information and services. The project also improved enabling policy and funding environment at regional, national, and sub-national level.”
In his statement, the representatives from the Ministry of Health, Idris Kamara underscored the importance the project, while noting that there is needs for Civil Society Organizations to be part of the problems solving.
Mr. Kamara noted that CSOs and young people have a big role to play in contributing to government intervention and that CSOs and government should partner for not only to support family planning but other services as well.
He recalled that there was an agreement for government to contribute up to 1% every year and that partners needs to come onboard in the advocacy. He added that CSO voices should be laud and to ensure government contribution is increased.
“The Nurse also needs the commodity to provide services and one of the factors for stock out is little or no resource to procure the commodities. We also have distribution challenges and staff at health facility also contributes greatly to stock out. There is now every need for effective monitoring to reduce stock out and this where the CSOs are important by making that call.
In his contribution Ansu from National Medical Service Agency explained in details their responsibility noting that distributing drugs and other family Planning commodities is key.
Mr. Ansu noted that they mostly relied on programs to address some of the stock out challenges.
“Expired drugs also contribute to stock out including lack of data also affect distribution of drugs. Let me assured this gathering that plans are on the way to address most of the challenges relating to drugs stock out.”
Speaking on behalf of the Pharmacy Board Ususif.. cited the positive impact the Health Alert project has created during their community engagement, noting that it was one of the best approaches in triggering effective service delivery.
He said people within the community should be actively engaged and provide support to manage the commodities. He said there are challenges in commodity financing by government and the need for commodity security.
