“ MONN DEMANN MINIS”

THE HEALTH SERVICE STILL INEFFICIENT

The visit by President Michel last Saturday (20/01/2007), to West Mahe, to inspect ongoing projects and proposed sites for developments has unearthed numerous unsolved difficulties in the health service. The health services are still experiencing problems three years after the President personally assumed responsibility to deal and finally resolve these matters. The presidential entourage met with particular difficulties at Beoliere Health Centre, Port Glaud and Grand Anse, where the standard of health services on offer are substandard to say the least.  

 May Malcouzane, the health coordinator of Beoliere Health Centre raised a number of issues, which the President responded to in his now established casual manner:

“What I have in fact already done is that I have asked the Minister for Health to carry out an exercise to evaluate the needs as far as health services in the districts are concerned, and ascertain what level of services is being given, and what we should do in the districts to ensure that people get proper services.”

 (Seychelles Nation, 23/01/07).

 The above phrase has now become the hallmark of the President, “Monn demann minis….”, which he repeats continuously wherever he goes or encounters awkward questions. 

President Michel commented further on the fact that he has also asked the Minister of Health to examine the services being given by the regional health centres like Beoliere. Also to relook and to assess the capacity of the current fleet of ambulances to see that clinics all over the country can get people to Victoria Hospital. This is a clear sign that the transport difficulties, which has dogged the Health Service, remain unsolved.

We can categorically reveal that most if not all the Clinics and Health Centres, with the exception of Anse Royale and Victoria Hospital do not have ambulance facilities attached to them. Serious difficulties exist in transporting medicine and the sick to and from the various Centres including the N. E. Point Hospital, the Home of the Elderly and the Rehabilitation Centre. It must be noted that since April 2004, the month James Michel moved into State House, the Ministry of Health has seen the back of three individuals as Minister. This in itself is an unsettling situation for the whole of the health service.

It does not give us any more pleasure to criticise the health service, but we feel it is our duty to identify the shortcomings and to highlight them, for the good of all. Especially when these are being overlooked or swept under the already bulging carpet. - despite the large sums allocated to the health service in the budget each year. The money is not being spent in a manner that is improving the health of the nation. This is serious and a matter, which the President has personally promised to solve.  It demonstrates a crisis being played out under a lack of leadership and resolve to positive decision-making.

January 26, 2007

Copyright 2007: Seychelles Weekly, Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles