By Foday Moriba Conteh
Established as an organization that is committed to serve as the Voice for the Aged with the key mandate to enhance the enjoyment of their fundamental inalienable human rights, the Dorwontony Organization for the Aged (DOFA), on Wednesday 17th November 2021 engaged the Sierra Leone Driver’s Union on how to respectfully treat elderly people onboard commercial vehicles within the country. The meeting was held at the Drivers’ Union Headquarters at Texaco in Kissy, Freetown.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Dorwontony Organization for the Aged (DOFA), Doreen Barrie, intimated that in April 2021, her organization received several complaints from elderly persons about the ill-treatment they receive from apprentices and drivers whilst on-board public transports stating that it is in that regard they decided to engage the Sierra Leone Driver’s Union with the primary objective of addressing those issues suffered by the Aged using public transportation.
She divulged that she is of the firm conviction that the engagement with drivers will help change the narrative of how apprentices and drivers treat the aged.
The CEO informed the drivers that most elderly persons are very slow in busy traffic and went on to encourage drivers to exercise patience and treat the aged respectfully. She also pleaded with drivers present to help disseminate the message to other colleagues so that the message will reach every driver in the country.
On his part, the President of the National Drivers Union, Alpha Amadu, commended the Dorwontony Organization for the Aged (DOFA) for their tireless support towards caring for the Aged in the country, adding that the meeting was very much important and timely because it had a representation of drivers from the different districts of Sierra Leone further assuring that the message from DOFA will reach each and every driver in the country.
The President pleaded with his colleagues to accept the message of DOFA in good faith and help not only the aged but also persons with physical disabilities that onboard public transports.
He promised to work in collaboration with DOFA to help treat the aged respectfully.
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