By Amin Kef Sesay
The result-oriented Manager of Mortuary Services and Head of National Burial Teams Sinneh Kamara, with office at the Connaught Teaching Hospital Mortuary in Freetown, on Monday 20th July 2020, bagged a prestigious award presented to him by the Media Network Movement (a Non-Governmental Organization), in recognition of his relentless and selfless services to humanity in his field of work.
Speaking during the presentation, the Secretary of the organization, James Lewis, disclosed how they have been following the work of Sinneh Kamara further stating that they are impressed with his commitment to duty. The Media Network Movement Secretary added that the award will serve as a motivation for Sinneh Kamara and his team of volunteers to continue the good work.
He pointed out that the presentation of the award was not prompted by any financial consideration, but rather as means of showing gratitude to Sinneh for the good work he has been doing.
Receiving the award, a rather emotional Sinneh Kamara, said that it is the first time in all his 15 years’ service to the nation for him to be recognized and expressed gratitude to the Movement for the recognition.
Sinneh further stated that in all the disasters that had hit the country, he has been the first responder, together with his team of volunteers. He stated that during the Ebola, he was very active in ensuring that corpses of victims were buried in dignified ways. He also disclosed that as first responders to all disasters, he and his team gave their best to help people during the Ebola, Mudslide, flash-floods and now during this Coronavirus pandemic.
He furthered that apart from those incidents, he is also responsible for collecting destitute people, who die on the streets, without people to identify them. According to him he uses his own personal money to collect and bury them. Sinneh revealed that currently he has some 56 unidentified corpses at the mortuary awaiting burial.
Sinneh Kamara further stated that the award has further motivated him to do more and will also serve as a motivation for his volunteers. He however appealed to the President to recognize the work of people who put their lives on the line to make the country better. He noted that in all the disasters that had taken place in which he had played pivotal roles, he did not receive any recognition from any individual or Government, but had stood by and watched others being recognized.
Sinneh disclosed that he is hopeful that this will be the beginning of more recognition for the work of people like him, who do the dirty jobs just to make Sierra Leone a better place to live in. He stated that detractors will come, but encouraged all Sierra Leoneans to stay focused on what they are doing to develop the country expressing optimism that one day they will be rewarded for their diligence and commitment to duty.
According to the CEO of Media Network Movement, Isaac Mansaray, the organization was established in 2018 with the main aim to recognize and appreciate people who in their little corner are contributing immensely to the development of the country.
The Movement, he stressed, works for the people of the country and not for any Government. He said their main focus is to observe how people sacrifice during disasters as well as how people contribute to the development of the country. Such people, he maintained, deserve recognition and a pat on the back to motivate them to do more.
He likened the award to a school going pupil, who is given a very good result for the good work he has done during the academic year. The award, he went on, does not have any financial consideration, but is only to tell the recipient that his or her work is being appreciated and to do more.
