By Olimatou Coker
The permanent secretary at the Ministry of Health has said his ministry, like any other ministry has suffered constant leadership challenges not because those mandated to lead were in any way short in performing their responsibilities but because of political interference.
Cherno Omar Barry said this has caused much harm in the government structure and disrupted the proper coordination and implementation of activities.
PS Barry made these remarks on Monday during the opening of the annual health sector review held at Sheraton hotel.
Barry however added that those kinds of interferences are now in the past, adding that any ministry’s leadership needs the right people who are committed, hardworking and sincere in delivering the overall mandate of the ministry.
“We hope to have passionate leaders coordinating their efforts and consolidating their strengthens to build a strong health and social welfare sector in this country,” he noted.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Saffie Lowe-Ceesay, said the new administration took the decision to showcase renewed leadership of health and ownership of policy and governance process to bring all health stakeholders together to hold this joint annual review.
“I therefore have no doubt that the intended outcomes will be attained at the end of the convergence,” she said.
She said the national health sector strategic plan 2014-2020 intends to provide accessible, adequate, effective, affordable and quality health care for all Gambians.
