Freetown — Despite the plethora of opposition bashings of cabinet ministers and other state functionaries in the currently political dispensation, one person that continues to stand out tall amidst this fury is the Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation, whose tough-acting and result-oriented innovations have nearly succeeded in transforming a once ailing and flagging Health ministry to an institution that is now a symbol of hope to the sick Sierra Leonean populace.

Most members of the Sierra Leone Peoples Party consider Mohamed Daudis Koroma as, in their words, "the only minister that is really working in the interest of the country".

Anonymous interviews conducted by this writer reveal that among the ministers in the President Ernest Bai Koroma-led APC government, Mohamed D. Koroma seems to have recorded the most marks so far, despite only being deputy minister. Several SLPP stalwarts spoken to heaped praises on Koroma for his starring role in ensuring the closure of all illegal pharmacies and ridding Sierra Leone of counterfeit and killer drugs.

"Perhaps Mohamed Koroma is the most popular in this APC batch in terms of performance. His disposition cuts across party politics and region. Though I am not wholly happy with this government and its cabinet, he is definitely a grassroots politician and a frank communicator who is not the least hesitant to point out at the failings in his own ministry and work towards correcting those anomalies," said an SLPP loyalist. He is definitely key to the success of this government due to his grassroots approach in addressing issues and his exuberance in implementing government policies."

It could be recalled that Mr. Koroma was singled out for praises for the manner in which he confronted irate nurses and doctors during their strike action for improved conditions of service. Even when the medical professionals were adamant to call off their strike and the government and public going frustrated with the seeming lack of humanity demonstrated by the health workers, the deputy minister was busy working behind the scene, engaging the junior personnel one-on-one while the President and Vice President rapped with the heads at State House. Not too long, the strike ended and the outcome was a win-win situation.

The success of the free health care service launched by President Koroma on April 27 this year could partly be credited to the robust leadership of Mohamed D. Koroma, who ensured that medical facilities on the ground in all districts across the country were in prepared state for the implementation of the scheme.

"At a time when the entire Health and Sanitation Ministry was grappling with the corruption scandal that swept away then Health minister Sheku Tejan Koroma, the deputy Minister took up the challenge to rebrand the whole image of the ministry to one that can be trusted to deliver the health needs of Sierra Leoneans," remarked one health worker.

While Mr. Koroma is working towards transforming the Health and Sanitation Ministry to a more viable department of government, detractors are said to be finding faults in anything that he does in a deliberate attempt to tarnish the good name he has carved for himself, and in the process not even sparing the president. But that has not dampened the enthusiasm of the deputy Minister as he continues to work for the betterment of the country and the government of President Ernest Bai Koroma.