By Mohamed Fofanah.
Diamond magnate, Hisham Mackie has opened a hospital in Tankoro Chiefdom in Koidu City and donated it to the people of Kono District to provide free and quality medical services for the people of Sierra Leone in a historic first.
The Hussein Mackie Memorial Hospital has an Egyptian doctor as its head, six professional Sierra Leonean nurses, pharmacists, lab technicians, and their assistants, the sponsor of the HMMH (Hussein Mackie Memorial Hospital) told a cheering crowd that included the former Minister of Local Government, Madam Diana Finda Konomanyi, Hon. Emerson Lamina, Ambassador John Yambasu, P. C. Foryoh, and Koidu Mayor during the official opening of the hospital in Koidu City on Friday.
Mr. Mackie said the hospital (named after his late father Pa Hussein Mackie) has an electrocardiogram (ECG) machine to check patients’ hearts rhythm and electrical activity, hematology analyzers (blood analyses), and a (CT) computed tomography scanner (an advanced X-ray machine) in addition to treating common ailments like malaria, and typhoid to enhance good health services for the underprivileged people.
He added that the Mackie family already has a prepared budget to run and sustain the facility including paying the salaries of hospital staff when official work commences on Monday 15 November. He revealed that the family wanted to do something of real value for their birthplace in addition to other philanthropic works, and promised to continue on that path.
Speaking during the opening ceremony of the hospital (formerly the Mackie family home) at 23 Masingbi Road in Koidu, the Deputy Chairman of the House Oversight Committee on Health and Sanitation, Hon. Musa Fofanah said aiding the health sector is the best service to the people, and that Government needs such interventions from the private sector, and he promised to make the gesture known to the House Speaker Hon. Dr Abass Chernor Bundu.
A public health specialist from the Kono district medical team, Sahr Amara Moiba promised to give full support to the HMMS which is meant to help ameliorate the burden on what he described as overwhelmed and constrained health sector in the district, ensuring that a quality healthcare system is provided for the people.
