By Foday Moriba Conteh
In a show of grateful appreciation and recognition for his outstanding and excellent services towards orphans and less privileged children in the country, the Honorable Member of Parliament for Constituency 116 in the Western Area-East Urban District, Hon. Emmanuel Shar Gbekie was on Monday 9th November, 2020 among several other personalities that bagged this year’s Humanitarian Goodwill Award 2020 during an auspicious event that was held at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown.
The Honorable Member of Parliament expressed gratitude and appreciation to the Orphans Empowerment Society- Sierra Leone for recognizing his efforts towards his contributions to orphans and the less privileged children in society.
He described the moment as historic furthering that some of the most serious problems faced by orphans are social exclusion and isolation, which could not be easily noticed at first sight, adding that they, the victims, also develop psychological trauma through the loss of one or both parents maintaining how such a situation could lead to withdrawal, while discriminatory treatment by relatives, peers or the society can lead them to self-isolation and destruction.
He further disclosed that another serious problem faced by orphans is trying to survive alone in the society also highlighting their inability to access adequate and necessary health care which further exacerbates the plight of children in such vulnerable situations.
He recommended that in order to address issues affecting orphans in the country, organizations should accelerate treatment and access which will improve their social wellbeing adding that organizations should also work on organizing programs that will strengthen and empower them as orphans.
He also recommended Psychological Counselling and Monitoring of these orphans and ended calling on Government and Non-Governmental Organizations to support them further underscoring how it is a national concern pointing out that it is time to ensure that no child is left behind as every child matters regardless of his or her status.
