The Chief Minister has acknowledged the efforts of the Directorate of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI) and the Ministry of Health in their joint launch of the Kombra App, a groundbreaking technology aimed at eliminating maternal deaths in Sierra Leone by 2038.
The app is designed to identify risks and ensure timely referrals, which experts believe is a highly ambitious yet achievable goal, given the power of innovation in driving effective development policies.
Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, Director of DSTI, emphasized the potential of the Kombra App to enhance access to healthcare, improve affordability, and ultimately reduce maternal deaths to zero. He highlighted the close collaboration with the Ministry of Health over the past five years in introducing smart technology to digitize the ministry’s operational standards.
Dr. Sengeh stated, “Health is fundamental to the human capital index. The state must implement reforms that will strengthen the health sector's capacity and improve
citizens’ lives through technology and innovation.”
Dr.
Sengeh underscored the dangers associated with maternity and praised the Kombra
App as a vital solution. He pointed out that technology is the driving force
behind the Big Five Changers’ development narrative, which is backed by
presidential support and citizen compliance. The Kombra App is a testament to
this narrative, as it enables referrals with a simple click, drastically
reducing risks and making maternal deaths a rarity.
The
Chief Minister officially launched the Kombra App on behalf of the government
of Sierra Leone, DSTI, and the Ministry of Health. He unveiled plans to
intensify awareness-raising efforts among citizens to ensure widespread
adoption of the app.
In
his speech, Dr. Sengeh highlighted the importance of health in the human
capital index and stressed the need for technological reforms to boost the
health sector. He noted that over the past five years, DSTI and the Ministry of
Health have been working together to introduce smart technology that will
digitalize the ministry’s operations.
Dr.
Sengeh acknowledged the significant challenges posed by maternal health issues
and commended the Kombra App as a crucial intervention. He expressed confidence
in the app’s ability to improve healthcare access and affordability, which will
contribute to reducing maternal deaths to zero. He also emphasized the
importance of continued innovation and collaboration in achieving this
ambitious goal.
The launch of the Kombra App marks a significant milestone in Sierra Leone’s efforts to enhance maternal health and reflects the government’s commitment to leveraging technology for development.
Dr. Sengeh’s remarks underscored the
app’s potential to transform the health sector and improve the lives of citizens
through innovative solutions.
As
part of the awareness campaign, the government plans to educate citizens on the
app’s benefits and functionalities. This initiative aims to ensure that the
Kombra App is widely used and that its potential to prevent maternal deaths is
fully realized.
In
conclusion, the launch of the Kombra App represents a significant step forward
in Sierra Leone’s efforts to eliminate maternal deaths. Through continued
collaboration and innovation, the government aims to achieve its goal of zero
maternal deaths by 2038.