By Mohamed Massaquoi

Lactating mothers whose children were admitted at the paediatric ward of the Kenema government hospital Tuesday expressed grievances over the manner they were being treated by nurses.

They alleged that nurses would collect money from them before admitting their children.

Aminata Conteh, an eighteen-year old suckling mother said they have been informed by some medical staff that the hospital lacks drugs and that has prompted nurses to charge patients exorbitantly for the few drugs they dispense out to them.

“We are of the opinion that drugs in this hospital should be sold on a cost recovery basis but this is not what is happening here. All the nurses attached to this pediatric ward have their drug stores in their bags and pockets,” Conteh said.

She alleged that the hospital staffs have no sympathy for patients and that before a child is admitted at the hospital, the parent is asked for a Le 5,000 fee, after which the parent will again be asked to buy needle and syringes for the treatment of the child. She added that parents are also asked to pay Le 20,000 as admission fee.

Conteh said the situation is even worse for those who travel long distances from far away villages.

“To make situation more difficult, they will ask you to donate blood which they will use for their selfish gains,” she said and noted that they have reported the nurses to the doctor in charge but no step has been taken.

A patient at the hospital Mohamed Kamara said his family was asked to buy three gallons of fuel for the generator before his hernia surgery.

When contacted, Dr. Chernor Jalloh of the paediatric ward refused to comment on the allegation on the grounds that journalists have nothing to do with the performance of the hospital.

However the district medical officer Dr. Minkailu Bah confirmed that the hospital lacks drugs but refused to comment on the allegations levy against some nurses of the hospital.