Civil Society Movement Against Tuberculosis-Sierra Leone (CISMAT-SL)
Member profile
Civil Society Movement Against Tuberculosis-Sierra Leone (CISMAT-SL) is a Civil Society Coalition of diverse organisations ranging from Community Based and Faith Based Organisations working on the promotion of civil society involvement in TB issues with the bid to re-invigorate advocacy efforts for the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of TB realising the fact that TB is an health and a human rights issue.
The coalition was formed as a result of the non-inclusion of civil society and TB patients into TB programmes and policies and that the low political commitment which has stimulated a lot of silence around TB issues, as this has caused stigma and discrimination to people living with TB in the communities of Sierra Leone.
Main activities
Improve referral networks: The lack of communications between health facilities, lack of transportation (ambulance) to carry patients (D2) & the huge cost of being referred, all theses combine render the referral system dysfunctional.
Enhance monitoring & ensure accountability: It is the responsibility of the government to address corruption & mismanagement within the healthcare system by establishing functional, accountable institutions & systems. Though civil society too, have a huge role to play in this direction.
Give the necessary health information to the people: A nationwide media & public education campaign to raise awareness among the population should be carried out in the following areas.
GOALS: Securing the right to health of the national population through the strengthening of civil society capacities on Advocacy related TB programmes and policies with the bid to enable CSOs in monitoring the implementation of TB/HIV related programmes and activities and engage in policy debate/dialogue for increased funding and access to TB/HIV health care and control for vulnerable populations by 2015 in Sierra Leone.
OBJECTIVES - COMMITMENT: Advocate for increase government, donor, and other stakeholder commitment to and investment in the early diagnosis, prevention, care and treatment of TB and HIV/AIDS, maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity in Sierra Leone.
Links to the health workforce crisis
CISMAT-SL has been engaging government including policy makers in the promotion of health work force in Sierra Leone through seminars, symposium and national consultative meetings processes taking into cognizance the healthcare system in Sierra Leone is characterized by poor infrastructure, lack of appropriately qualified healthcare workers and insufficient supplies of drugs, consumables and equipment that are related on TB. Even the hospitals in the city Freetown often lack running water, electricity, and other basic necessities. These problems are exacerbated by poor co-ordination, management and over sight of the healthcare system.
