The director of the Centre-Est regional health department in Gabon's Ogooué-Lolo province, Thierry Bayito Mokoko, has concluded an inspection tour of health facilities under his administrative jurisdiction. The tour aimed to assess their operating conditions and identify challenges they face. According to the Gabon Press Agency, the final leg of the tour took Mokoko to dispensaries in Mulundu department and Ndangui health center, as well as dispensaries in Basse-Lombo and Lombo-Bouenguidi cantons.
The inspection tour began in Offoué-Onoye department, then continued in Bouenguidi-Moalo canton and Popa district. The tour revealed numerous difficulties affecting the daily operations of the visited facilities. Mokoko stated that the visits allowed him to measure the extent of challenges faced by health facilities, particularly dispensaries and health centers. These challenges are similar to those identified in other health facilities recently visited by Health Minister Elsa Joséphine Nkana-Bivigou.
Mokoko emphasized the need to reassess and create an attractive work environment in all these facilities. He cited the example of the Lebagny village dispensary, which is one of the few still functional. The dispensary, built in 1975, has over a dozen hospitalization beds for a local population of nearly 200 inhabitants. However, its infrastructure and two staff quarters require rehabilitation and medication supplies.
The Lebagny dispensary, staffed by assistant nurse Anne-Marie Dibangoyi, illustrates the challenges faced by many health facilities in the region. According to data provided during the tour, out of over 170 registered dispensaries, only 27 are still operational. This situation highlights the significant challenges confronting many health establishments in the region.
The inspection tour enabled Mokoko to assess firsthand the numerous difficulties hindering the effective operation of health facilities in his jurisdiction. These challenges include inadequate infrastructure, insufficient medication supplies, and a shortage of qualified personnel. The regional health director's findings will likely inform policy decisions aimed at addressing these issues.
The Gabonese government's efforts to improve healthcare services are ongoing, with Minister Nkana-Bivigou's recent visits to various health facilities. The minister's visits and Mokoko's inspection tour demonstrate the government's commitment to addressing the challenges facing the healthcare sector. However, concrete actions and sustainable solutions are necessary to mitigate these challenges and ensure quality healthcare services for local populations.
The successful implementation of measures to address the challenges facing Gabon's healthcare facilities will require collaboration among stakeholders, including government agencies, healthcare professionals, and local communities. The outcome of Mokoko's inspection tour and the government's response will be closely watched by local populations and healthcare professionals, who eagerly anticipate improvements in healthcare services.
Key points
- Only 27 out of over 170 registered dispensaries in the region are still operational.
