By Foday Moriba Conteh
It has been acknowledged by medical practitioners and those assigned the task of putting together workable strategies in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus that community transmission must be targeted and curtailed in the fight in order to defeat the virus. It is against such a backdrop that we have seen efforts been made to reach out to community residents with the objective of sensitizing them on what are required of them just to avoid contracting the virus.
Within the context of complementing the efforts of the Government to reach out to communities with preventive messages, one of Sierra Leone’s most proactive organizations, Diaspora Focus, on Saturday 4th July 2020, embarked on a sensitization drive to raise awareness about the mode of transmission and prevention of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) at Malama, Kamayama, Mayimbo, Sheriff Drive, Upper Regent Road-Lumley, Pentagon Communities etc. in the Western Area Urban District. The organization also donated Personal Protective Equipment worth millions of Leones, viz: 25 Veronica buckets, 25 waste buckets, 3 cartons of soaps and 1,500 facemasks to residents of those communities.
In his welcome address, Councilor for Ward 444, Abdul Karim Turay, expressed gratitude and appreciation to Diaspora Focus for its intension to engage in such a massive sensitization exercise within the targeted communities saying the coronavirus preventive materials that will be donated will help them immensely in curtailing the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
He said the fight against COVID-19 in the country needs collaboration and massive sensitization on the do’s and don’ts in order to instill the importance about adherence to the preventive measures and to do exactly what is medically required of individuals suspected of having contracted the virus.
Councilor Idrissa Kamara, who served as Chairman of the program, before the donations commenced, applauded Diaspora Focus for their kind gesture which he described as a timely intervention and a move in the right direction at this crucial moment when efforts are mounted to continue the fight.
He warmly extolled the CEO and International Director of Diaspora Focus, Dr. Emmanuel J. M. Stafford and his team for personally joining the fight, adding that this is not the first time the organization has been undertaking such a gesture in their communities, furthering that during the outbreak of the Ebola disease in 2014, Diaspora Focus also supported them with Personal Protective Equipment, which he said, contributed tremendously in the fight against Ebola, expressing hope that with the items donated to them such will help in curtailing the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
On his part, the CEO and International Director of Diaspora Focus, Dr. Emmanuel J. M. Stafford appealed with the people to endure the suffering and hard time brought on them and the entire world by the Coronavirus, adding that even his organization is going through difficult times to even purchase the Personal Protective Equipment donated to them as compared to the ones they bought for the Waterloo community and its environs. He added that regardless of all these challenges they are committed to ensure that they continue massive sensitization and donation of these PPEs to people.
He encouraged all to observe the necessary personal hygiene messages that have been explained to them and to adhere to the directives of the Government. He also admonished them to follow the process of hand washing demonstrated to them as such will help to keep them alive and protect them from contracting the coronavirus.
He stated that schools are now opened for examination classes, other measures have been relaxed and colleges will soon reopen for exams but said that doesn’t mean that Corona is over which means they should adhere to all the preventive measures, adding that the world is still battling to produce a vaccine for Corona but it will take months or years before a vaccine will be approved.
In his keynote address, Rev. Dr. Momodu Conteh also expressed delight for the inspirational and encouraging messages from Diaspora Focus relating to the consequences of contracting the coronavirus and the importance of taking ownership of the fight. He urged residents to make good use of the messages, adding that if everyone protects him or herself from the virus, Sierra Leone will be protected, the world will be protected and Corona will be defeated.
He admonished the people to continue to abide by the do’s and don’ts of the World Health Organization (WHO) admonishing residents to continue to wash their hands frequently, maintain social distancing, observe coughing ethics and wearing face masks in order to curtail the spread of the coronavirus in the country in order to break the chain of transmission.
Other members present including Community Heads/Representatives traditional and religious leaders, Bike (Okada) and tricycle (Keke) riders, Police Partnership Board, Lumley Market Association, Malama Health Center, Youths and Women’s organizations etc. expressed similar sentiments.
The items were distributed amongst the various stakeholders amidst strict adherence to all Coronavirus protocols.
