By Jonathan Hindolo Kurabu, D Catalyst
The Non-Governmental Organizations, BRAC Sierra Leone, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and other partners have over the weekend symbolically presented hand-wash stations in the three operational districts of Bo, Pujehun and Kenema respectively.
As part of BRAC’s COVID-19 Community Health Outreach Project in the aforementioned areas of operation it attracted hosts of dignitaries drawn from both the public and private sectors including the respective District DiCOVERCs.
Patrick Massaquoi the Southern Regional Health Coordinator of BRAC-Sierra Leone in his statement during the ceremony disclosed that they thought it fit to extend their support under the COVID-19 Community Health Reach Project to the aforementioned districts in collaboration with the Districts COVID-19 Emergency Response Centres.
He furthered that such a move is to support Government’s efforts in breaking the chain of transmission of COVID 19 adding how the districts do play integral roles in the drive to combat the virus hence the reason for the support given to them.
The Southern Regional Health Coordinator went on to disclose that ten (10) Community Health Promoters (CHP) were also selected in each chiefdom giving a total of 50 per District.
He informed the beneficiaries that one of the activities they undertook include the training of Community Health Promoters on health issues in order to help fight the coronavirus pandemic in their various communities, adding that their main function is to help sensitize residents in those various communities about COVID-19 preventive measures.
The donation of hand wash stations materials by BRAC to the respective Paramount Chiefs present was done as well as soaps, hand sanitizers, face masks, T-shirts and caps all bearing COVID-19 preventive messages.
Patrick Massaquoi urged the beneficiaries to use the donated items for their intended purposes emphasizing that COVID 19 has not been declared over thus the need to adhere to all preventive measures.
Receiving the items, Paramount Chiefs of Makpele and Gallines Chiefdoms, PC Mustapha Tamu and PC Jojoh Wokie Massaquoi respectively expressed thanks and appreciation to BRAC for its intervention and gesture geared towards the fight against the coronavirus pandemic and urged them to scale up sensitization exercises and extend them to neighbouring chiefdoms outside the scope of their operations.
Similar statements were made by some stakeholders present.
The Community Health Promoters present lauded BRAC-Sierra Leone for its continued support and awareness raising strides on COVID 19 transmission and preventive measures and pledged to be ambassadors of change in their respective chiefdoms.
BRAC is a Non-Governmental Organization that was founded 49 years ago in Bangladesh and started operations in Sierra Leone in 2008.
The organization, over the past years, has implemented various programmes in many sectors ranging from Health, Emergency Response Preparedness, Youth Empowerment and Gender Parity, Agricultural Projects and Microfinance, being the largest micro finance organization in Sierra Leone with over 69,000 beneficiaries.
