It is the first day on Bonthe Island, located in the southern provinces of Sierra Leone, and we are stood before a large pale grey brick house.
We dey look for John Sanganme” we tell a young woman. We are told to wait and five minutes later a fairly tall man emerges, “I am John, how may I help you?
The sombre looking man we quickly find out is funny, down to earth and, most importantly, a passionate monitoring and evaluation health worker dedicated to ensuring that people, especially the women of Bonthe, access free health care drugs. John becomes our guide on the island, taking us on a tour of Bonthe’s one government hospital and to the two smaller clinics located at different ends of the island. He proudly tells us about Bonthe Island, its people, its challenges and his love for Bonthe.
“Many of Sierra Leone’s wealthy elite come from Bonthe Island, but they do not give back and I do not understand that. I was born on this island and, although I went to college in Freetown, I came back to Bonthe when I completed my studies. How could I not? This is home. We need to come back home and make a difference”.
As a monitoring and evaluation officer for Health for All Coalition in Bonthe, John is meticulous about his responsibilities. He works around the clock, unexpectedly showing up at the hospital and clinics to talk to patients, especially women on whether they are accessing free health care services, including medication for themselves and their babies.
We need to make sure our women are accessing the free drugs they are entitled to
He also keeps track of all the drugs that enter the island, their use and distribution.
It is a difficult position to have because you want to earn the trust of both the nurses and the patients. Sometimes patients get scared to tell the truth, but I try to reassure them that it is all confidential. This must be done, you know, we need to make sure our women are accessing the free drugs they are entitled to.
Despite the challenges he faces, like sometimes not accessing reporting forms or the snail pace of change when required, John believes he must persevere.
John commands the respect of his community; we are witness to the ease in which he interacts with his community, stopping to greet everyone as we tour the small island.
Making sure the right type of drugs reach the island, making sure that the drugs get to the right people, that women are accessing free and safe medication and services, to me that is how I give back to my home.
We look around, the brightly orange and blue painted clinic filled with young mothers who come to access vaccination for their newly born babies, and it all makes sense, record keeping is saving lives.