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President Bio Addresses the Nation on 59th Independence Anniversary

His Excellency the President, Dr. Julius Maada Bio

By Amin Kef Sesay

His Excellency the President, Dr. Julius Maada Bio, on the 27th April 2020 delivered a short address to the nation after the country woke up to celebrate or observe its 59th Independence Anniversary.

The President stated that as we observe the 59th anniversary of the nation’s independence, we are once again reminded of how we are a resilient people, who have stood together as a nation in trying times and come out every time a stronger and better nation.

He stated that these are not normal times in our country and in the world at large as the ravaging Coronavirus has overwhelmed nations and left over two hundred thousand dead in its trail.

“This pandemic has changed societies, unsettled notions of unilateralism and left economies in shambles,” he highlighted informing that as we mark the day, he would like to thank our healthcare and other essential workers, Chiefs and community leaders, journalists, development partners (local and international), and Sierra Leoneans who have volunteered to work hard to rid our great nation of COVID-19.

“I am also profoundly grateful to every Sierra Leonean who has complied with restrictions on movement, assembly, livelihood, and lifestyles,” the President expressed appreciation further mentioning that those measures may seem intrusive and unbearable now, but they are necessary to break the chain of transmission in order to return to normal life and routine.

He thanked all for doing the needful by preventing, protecting themselves and others and to curtail the disease. He admonished all to be communicators and social mobilisers who should not only act to prevent Corona but also educate loved ones, neighbours and communities about the highly infectious disease.

The President said all are aware that before the COVID-19 pandemic, we had made steady progress as a nation stating how there had been improved macroeconomic stability, increased revenue mobilization, and  measures taken to open the country up for competitive and rewarding investments in various sectors.

“We had allocated 21% of national budget to support free quality education for two million children regardless of gender and ethnicity. We were building effective and resilient institutions and fettering corruption because corruption is inimical to our development. We were deploying new technologies for governance, education, healthcare, agriculture and for business. We will continue pursuing these and many more as we fight to contain COVID-19,” he mentioned some of the programmes that his Government has rolled out.

President Bio said the baseline for the country’s development remains to be human capital development stating that  as he has always maintained, a fit-for-purpose education that nurtures talent and promotes innovation; a resilient healthcare system that is affordable and accessible; and a vibrant agriculture sector that targets food security through promoting modernized farming, value-addition, and agro-based businesses for our citizens, are the very precursors and the very foundation for our development.

He reminded all that the task ahead is arduous furthering how now is the time for every patriotic Sierra Leonean to unconditionally contribute his or her fair effort for Sierra Leone.

“Patriotism is not about standing up only for people with whom you share the same political loyalties, ethnicity, or region. It is about embracing and caring about people who hold different views, and who belong to different ethnicities and different regions. It is about standing up for the ideal that your country’s call in its hour of need is supreme,” the President intimated.

The First Gentleman said only with our collective commitment, determination, focus, and unity of purpose, shall we prevail over Corona.

The President ended by entreating every Sierra Leonean to strictly adhere to all hygiene protocols and healthcare directives, and to report anyone showing symptoms of COVID-19. “You must also continue to use healthcare facilities for all other illnesses,” he further enjoined maintaining that if natural disasters, war and the Ebola

Pandemic never vanquished our resolve to survive, we shall overcome this yet again and together build a strong and productive SIERRA LEONE.

2018 Procurement Assessment Report to be Laid in Parliament Today

Chief Executive Officer NPPA, Ibrahim Brima Swarray,

By Allieu Sahid Tunkara           

A report on procurement activities of 134 public procuring entities undertaken in 2018 is set to be tabled in Parliament this Tuesday, 28th April 2020, by the Minister of Finance, Jacob Jusu Saffa. Parliament will vet the report after its presentation before it is made public.

The objective of the assessment report is to provide a clear picture of all procurement activities embarked upon by Government agencies almost two years back.

The report would help identify weaknesses in the public procurement system to support the development of evidence-based public procurement policies, strategies and future reforms.

NPPA Chief Executive Officer, Ibrahim Brima Swarray, elated for the publication of the procurement report, saw it as the fulfilment of an important milestone in Sierra Leone’s procurement landscape. “With the publication of this report, I can proudly stand up and tick off one major milestone that we have been able to achieve as it is clearly contained in Section 14(2)(m) of the Public Procurement Act,”  Swarray said.

Swarray also told this medium that he was gratified to see the completion of the report which he referred to as an “arduous and daunting journey.”

The report titled: “Annual Public Procurement Assessment Report, 2018” contains two basic segments referred to as first and second generations. Sierra Leone, according to the report, has undergone what is usually termed in procurement circle as “first generation” procurement reforms.

The term: “first generation,” within the context of the report, refers to legal and regulatory enhancements as well as the creation of a cadre to undertake procurement and reform of the rest of the institutional framework. NPPA, the report says, has embarked on several initiatives centred on “second generation” procurement reforms.

The second generation focuses on the overall development of the human resources whose activities impact on and drive the practice.

The expected outcome, according to the report, should result in greater adherence to processes and procedures with the aim of achieving strict compliance with the law. It is hoped that the successful implementation of these processes and procedures contained in the report would greatly rely on support from the Executive and Legislative arms of Government.

The report also pointed out that the second generation reforms are on-going. “The reforms are centred on the introduction of electronic procurement to further overall improvement in the procurement sphere,” a portion of the report reads.

Deepening overall improvement of the country’s procurement sector, the report further states, is aimed at enhancing the integrity of the procurement system, ensure the professionalization of the procurement function, strengthen accountability and performance measures, work within the wider public financial management reforms and collaborate, through information sharing, with other key Government stakeholders such as the Anti-Corruption Commission and the Audit Service Sierra Leone.

The report also claimed that despite the number of years procurement practice was integrated into the country’s public sector administration, execution of procurement processes by procurement entities remain “dismally low.”

It also indicated that over-use and abuse of the ‘Request for Quotation’ (RFQ) method of procurement continues to hinder the achievement of savings through the use of framework contracts for the repetitive purchase of goods and medium term value items.

The excessive use of the RFQ, the report says, by some procurement entities indicate a deliberate effort to undermine competition by splitting procurement activities to keep them below the threshold of open competitive bidding.

According to the report, procurement professionals do not make effort to explore innovative strategies that would improve on their turn-around time, reduce on the administrative cost of doing business and produce tangible benefits and cost-saving.

Weak contracts management resulting in major delivery delays, specifications deviations and poor quality of supplies, lack of adherence to contractual terms and obligations, under reporting or selective reporting among others are key findings contained in the 2018 Procurement Report.

Making special reference to previous public sector reform and audit reports on procurement activities, the aforementioned anomalies are compounded by the “abysmal state of records management in Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government.”

The report refers to the poor records management as a “fatal flaw” in public sector management. “It is unthinkable, yet a fact, that upon request for documents, procurement personnel will claim they do not have records preceding their transfer to another entity as the last officer ‘took them along.’ This portrays a system that is endemically flawed,” the report also reads in part.

Almost invariably, the purchase of furniture and equipment by procuring entities is also captured by the report.

The report shows that 1,029 activities undertaken with a total expenditure of over Le40 Billion the equivalent of US$ 40M were related to purchase of furniture and equipment noting that no standards exist to guide the procurement of airline ticketing service.

“It is completely unregulated and also an additional avenue for leakages. Though we are aware of the many conditional variables that go into the pricing in this sector, yet the disparity between similar classes to the same destinations is glaring,” the report reads.

The report similarly indicated that the public sector being a purchaser of fuel, NPPA had sought in the past to prompt Government to negotiate with the fuel suppliers for volume discount. “Since this field has a very limited number of suppliers, obtaining the savings of a few hundred Leones per litre would produce a substantial amount of savings in this sector,” the report says.

On the positive side, the report went on, NPPA’s unrelenting insistence on the use of price norm and adherence to prices therein, price variations for similar items with similar specifications has been appreciably reduced.

NPPA was created in 2004 through an Act of Parliament as an autonomous, regulatory and oversight body in public procurement. Procurement Regulations were developed in 2006 to complement the Act with step-by-step guidance on how to conduct procurement activities.

The first set of procurement officers in the civil service were employed in 2010 which resulted in the establishment of the ‘procurement cadre’ to provide professional and technical procurement services within procuring entities. Public procurement is a strategic component in resource allocation and that if conducted in an efficient, transparent and competitive manner results in the effective delivery of public services.

In Sierra Leone, like in most developing nations, public procurement accounts forms a significant portion of Government expenditure.

In recognition of the fact above and with the support of development partners, Sierra Leone’s procurement system has undergone a number of reforms over the years mainly through experimentation with various forms of centralized and decentralized systems eventually culminating in the current fully decentralized system which has been embraced by Government.

The procurement system was formally decentralized in 2004, and a comprehensive legal instrument was developed based on the model law of the UN Commission for Trade Law on the procurement of goods, works and services created as an autonomous regulatory body.

Minister of Finance, Jacob Jusu Saffa

Partnering to Serve Humanity Consortium Donates 6000 Bags of Rice to MBSSE

Chief Executive Officer of Lanyi Foundation, Philomena Yumkella doing the symbolic handing over ceremony of the 10Kg Rice to the the Director of Administration, National School Feeding Programme, Sorie I. Fofana

By Foday Moriba Conteh

To complement the efforts Government is making towards enhancing and sustaining the National School Feeding Programme in the country, Partnering to Serve Humanity Consortium, comprising Tzu Chi Foundation, Healey International Relief Foundation, Lanyi Foundation and Caritas Freetown has on Friday 24th April, 2020 donated 6000 bags(10 Kilograms) of rice to the Ministry of Basic and Secondary School Education (MBSSE). The event took place at the Caritas Head Office at Kingtom in Freetown.

Present at the handing over ceremony were the Director of Administration, National School Feeding Programme, Sorie I. Fofana, President/ Executive Director of Caritas Freetown, Rev. Fr. Peter Konteh, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Basic and Secondary School Education (MBSSE), David Benya, Chief Executive Officer of Lanyi Foundation, Philomena Yumkella, National Programme Coordinator of the Free Quality School Education Programme (MBSSE), Amara Sowa, Programs Manager for Healey International Relief Foundation in Sierra Leone & a volunteer of Tzu Chi Foundation, Ishmeal Alfred Charles, staff of Caritas and MBSSE.

In his presentation, the President/ Executive Director of Caritas (Freetown), Rev. Fr. Peter Konteh described the gathering as symbolic and timely as they will be handing over 6000 bags of Rice of 10 Kg to the Ministry of Basic and Secondary School Education (MBSSE) to support the National School Feeding Initiative in the country.

He noted that even though organized schools are shutdown but the children are still living and they need food to survive.  The Reverend Father stated that the consortium, over the years, has been working assiduously to support the Government and the people of Sierra Leone through diverse programs and initiatives, adding that they felt humbled to support the National School Feeding Program stating how they are always humble to serve especially the less privileged in society.

He said it is very important that the young shall grow well and that one way they could grow well is to have good nourishment which is why they decided to support the Ministry with the donated bags of rice.

He applauded the Ministry of Basic and Secondary School Education (MBSSE) for the tireless efforts they have been expending to implement the Free Quality Education program adding that the role the Ministry is playing is very key towards the development of the nation.

Chief Executive Officer of Lanyi Foundation, Philomena Yumkella, noted that her organization was primarily established to promote education further revealing how they have renovated schools and provided financial supports to pupils. She said that since Lanyi Foundation joined the consortium they have been supporting the course of education in the country.

Philomena maintained that the donation of the bags of rice to the Ministry is a manifestation of their continuous support towards the course to serve humanity. She extended appreciation to Tzu Chi Foundation for providing the bags of rice that were donated to the Ministry for the school feeding program stating also that Ebola Survivors are going to benefit.

Programs Manager of Healey International Relief Foundation in Sierra Leone & a volunteer of Tzu Chi Foundation, Ishmeal Alfred Charles, disclosed that in 2014, like many other humanitarian organizations, Tzu Chi Foundation responded to help the people of Sierra Leone when the Ebola scourge was consuming lives and threatening the livelihoods of people adding that the Foundation was initiated by Dharma Master Cheng Yen revealing that in her wisdom and humanitarian sprit she mobilized volunteers to coordinate relief support for Sierra Leone.

He said that the consortium is handing over 6000 bags of rice of 10 kilogram which will be distributed to targeted beneficiaries.

On his part, Director of Admin for the National School Feeding Programme, Sorie I. Fofana expressed appreciation to the Partnering to Serve Humanity Consortium for the kind gesture which he described as very timely.

He disclosed that the 6000 bags of rice of 10 kilogram will be distributed in 6 districts, Bombali, Karene, Kambia, Kono, Kailahun and Kenema, adding how primary school children will be targeted and each child will be provided with 10 kg of rice to take home. According to him, the distribution will be led by the Ministry with support by the partners of the consortium.

He said schools were selected at random within the most food insecure and vulnerable chiefdoms in each district according to the comprehensive food security and vulnerability analysis that was undertaken by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the World Food Programme in 2015.

He assured the Consortium that the Ministry will ensure that the bags of rice will be used for the intended purpose and will reach the targeted beneficiaries.

President/ Executive Director of Caritas Freetown, Rev. Fr. Peter Konteh also doing the symbolic handing over to the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Basic and Secondary School Education (MBSSE), David Benya

Cross section of the Rice donated

SLCB Assures Customers of the Bank’s Safety -DMD

Deputy Managing Director of the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank (SLCB), Bockarie Kalokoh

By Amin Kef Sesay

Following the fumigation of all its branches across Sierra Leone in a bid to curtail the spread and prevention of COVID-19, the Deputy Managing Director of the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank (SLCB), Bockarie Kalokoh underscored the fact that SLCB is the safest bank for customers.

The Deputy Managing Director reiterated that the fumigation of its facilities is a precautionary measure against the coronavirus and in ensuring that their customers do not contract the disease when accessing their facilities nationwide.

He furthered that the fumigation of their facilities done by Mr. Klin, a cleaning agency contracted by the Bank, is to complement the efforts of President Julius Maada Bio and his Government in taking proactive measures in the fight against the disease.

Apart of the proactive precautionary measures taken as a Bank to prevent their valuable and loyal customers and the country at large in all its branches across the country, he said SLCB is playing its part again in engaging the public to prevent themselves from the disease.

He further reiterated that “prevention is key, Corona virus is real, prevent the spread of corona, wash your hands regularly with soap and water, practice social distancing and avoid hand shaking.”

“Adhering to the precautionary measures, together we say NO TO CORONAVIRUS,” he averred. He called on all to adhere to the directives of the President and the Ministry responsible for the fight against the spread of the coronavirus in the country.

Everyone could attest to the fact that the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank (SLCB), the innovative and profit making financial institution f was the first public institution to have taken a giant step in embarking on sensitization and awareness raising on the precautionary measures against the spread of coronavirus.

The Bank demonstrated exemplary leadership as the Big Brother in the financial sector undertook series of street parades with stickers carrying messages of preventive measures from the Ministry of Health and Sanitation as well as the global health body, the World Health Organization.

 

NP-SL Unwavering Posture in Importing & Marketing Petroleum Products is Impressive

National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited, NP (SL-Ltd).

By Amin Kef Sesay

The National Petroleum –Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd) continues to bag widespread commendations for its unwavering stance or posture to continue to import and market petroleum products even as the country is currently battling with COVID-19.

Indeed, such a stance on the part of the company is a clear manifestation that the Shareholders and Management of the company are doing all within their reach to avail Sierra Leoneans and other nationals these significant products which is making it possible for individuals to smoothly go about  daily activities.

Indisputably, the importance of availability and affordability of petroleum products cannot be overemphasized when cognizance is taken of how they help in contributing to facilitate movement from one place to another, powering our generators, our cookers, lubricating our engines for effective and efficient functioning amidst others.

“At a crucial time like this when the economies of countries have been grounded as a result of the pandemic it is but commendable on the part of NP-SL to scale up its contacts and arrangements in order to ensure the timely availability and marketing of petrol, diesel, gas and lubricants including the most demanded Castrol oil,” Managing Director of Sea Coast Clearing and Forwarding Agency expressed gratitude.

Based on what this medium leant, when it went out to gauge the opinions of people relating to what they consider  about the operations of NP-SL, many stated that the company is really doing exceptionally well in its activities, some praising the efficiency and dedication of its Management and Staff for their pro-activeness as well as meeting deadlines.

Indeed, it is an indisputable fact that NP-SL Ltd is a prime mover of the country’s economy. The company, has over the years, been paying huge taxes to Government as it is within the Large Tax Payers bracket of the National Revenue Authority (NRA). These taxes paid are reserved in the Consolidated Revenue Fund to be utilized by the Government to fund the implementation of various development programmes. As far as investigation mounted proved, there has not been a single complaint of the company reneging in honouring its tax obligation, which some say is highly commendable.

To also demonstrate that it is indeed a 100% indigenous company, that means well for the people of this country, besides maximizing profits from sales, the Shareholders and Management of the company made it a laid down policy to give consideration first to Sierra Leoneans instead of foreign expatriates when it comes to employment opportunities. This has made it possible for indigenes, with the requisite qualifications and skills to gain employment in the company which in turn is helping greatly in reducing poverty and to take care of basic responsibilities. From what was learnt NP-SL has indeed taken the lead in enhancing the country’s Local Content Policy which is in tandem with national growth.

This thriving business entity is better known for taking Customer Care to the highest pedestal in the country as it has been rolling out different strategies to give utmost satisfaction to its numerous customers right across the country. With installed modern calibrated pumping machines at the company’s Filling Stations, customers do get the exact quantity of petrol or diesel they purchase at Filling Stations which, according to some, is transparent and good in terms of fair transaction.

“I feel comfortable using NP Gas for cooking purpose as it is quite easy to handle and not harmful,” Hawanatu Yansaneh, a housewife told our reporter adding that it is easy to refill as the gas could be easily secured from the company’s Filling Stations. Her impression resonates with that of others that were interviewed with many recommending it as an efficient cooking gadget. NP Gas cookers are manufactured in different cylinder sizes and are very affordable.

NP Smart Card is the most convenient means or device of purchasing fuel at NP stations. This memory chip can be uploaded with money which in turn can be slotted in the calibrated machines and the required amount paid. It prevents individuals from moving around with large amount of money, especially on behalf of companies or corporate institutions just to purchase fuel. It can be used at any time of the day when the company is operating and has been rated as very accurate.

One of the yardsticks that could be used to measure the viability of any company is its growth rate. In this regard NP-SL stands tall as it has successfully opened branches in neighbouring Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and The Gambia. These NP branches are really doing well within the realm of importing and marketing petroleum products and contributing positively towards the development of those nations.

It can be said with all amount of certainty that NP-SL Ltd has an unwavering stance when it comes to making moves to import and market petroleum products and it is doing so diligently to the utmost satisfaction of many.

As Fight Against COVID-19 Intensifies… SL Brewery Donates Personal Protective Equipment to Medical & Dental Association

By Amin Kef Sesay

As part of their corporate social responsibility and to complement the efforts of the Government of Sierra Leone in curtailing the spread of the coronavirus in the country, Sierra Leone Brewery Limited, on Friday 24th April, 2020 donated a consignment of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the tune of over 150 million Leones, including Sanitizers, Examination Gloves, Veronica Buckets, Soap, Cans of Maltina drinks etc. to the Sierra Leone Medical and Dental Association. The event took place at the Sierra Leone Medical and Dental Association office at New England Ville in Freetown.

Present at the ceremony were the President of the Sierra Leone Medical and Dental Association, Dr. Delwin M. Findlay, Corporate Affairs Manager Sierra Leone Brewery Limited, Albert Ojo Collier, Administrative Manager Sierra Leone Medical and Dental Association, Mrs. Olivette Johnson-Williams, Clinic Manager Sierra Leone Brewery Limited, Mrs. Kindness Emezue and staff of both institutions.

In his presentation, Corporate Affairs Manager Sierra Leone Brewery Limited, Albert Ojo Collier, disclosed that as a company they are very concerned with the outbreak of the coronavirus in the country and in that regard they have been very supportive towards the fight. He said that Brewery, on Good Friday, donated Personal Protective Equipment to the Honourable Members of Parliament of Constituencies 114 and 115, Councillors  for Ward 404, 405 and 406 respectively, and that on the 17th April, 2020, Brewery also impressively donated Personal Protective Equipment costing millions of Leones to the Government of Sierra Leone through the Covid-19 Response Team, which included 2,000 litres of alcohol sanitizers, 5 Milla Hand washing machines with accessories, 50 veronica buckets with accessories, 50 hand washing basins, 30 cartons of soap, 14 cartons of tissues and 12,000 cans of Maltina drinks.

He said that they are doing this donation to the Sierra Leone Medical and Dental Association as a way to support the Association in the Covid-19 fight, underscoring that they are frontline workers, further adding that with these protective equipment, it will help to prevent them from the deadly coronavirus.

He admonished them to make good use of the items in order to help curtail the spread of the coronavirus in the country.

President of  the Sierra Leone Medical and Dental Association, Dr. Delwin M. Findlay, expressed appreciation to the Sierra Leone Brewery Limited for the kind gesture, describing such as a timely intervention.

He said that during the Ebola outbreak, they lost doctors who were actively engaged in the fight against the Ebola virus, adding that with such a gesture, they believe that no doctor will be lost to the Coronavirus outbreak.

He assured the Brewery that these items will be used for the right purpose and it will be given to the right beneficiaries, adding that the Association has over 100 nurses that are under quarantine and some of these items will be allocated to them.

The event was climaxed by the official handing over of the items by the Corporate Affairs Manager of the Sierra Leone Brewery Limited, Albert Ojo Collier, to the President of the Sierra Leone Medical and Dental Association, Dr. Delwin M. Findlay.

UNFPA Sierra Leone partners with Africell Sierra Leone on a Campaign to promote sexual and reproductive health information

                                                                 

 

For immediate release

UNFPA Sierra Leone partners with Africell Sierra Leone on a Campaign to promote sexual and reproductive health information

Freetown, Sierra Leone, 23 April 2020: The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Sierra Leone on Tuesday, 21 April 2020, entered into a partnership with Africell (SL) Limited, through a Memorandum of Understanding to support UNFPA’s efforts to achieve three transformative results; zero unmet need for family planning, zero maternal deaths, zero gender based violence (GBV) and all harmful practices.

The UNFPA – Africell partnership is a campaign focused primarily on reaching women and girls with information to increase the demand for GBV, sexual and reproductive health services. The campaign is initially targeting at least 600,000 subscribers in Freetown with voice calls and text messages on COVID-19, maternal health, family planning and gender-based violence at no cost to subscribers.

UNFPA worked with government and UN partners in Sierra Leone to develop the message contents; customized them into accessible local language; and recorded voice messages. UNFPA and Africell SL jointly developed a strategy to target literate subscribers with SMS messages, and low literacy subscribers with the voice messages. Thus ensuring everyone could understand the messages.

Dr. Kim Eva Dickson, UNFPA Country Representative, said she was delighted that the partnership has come to fruition. “UNFPA embraces innovative approaches to ensure that communities are reached with much needed sexual and reproductive health information and services. We particularly welcome this public private partnership with Africell SL during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is extremely important that women and girls are encouraged to continue to access free family planning and maternal health services, and we make all efforts to prevent gender based violence, as this pandemic rages.”

Mr. Shadi Gerjawi, CEO of Africell (SL) Limited, in his comments said “Africell is pleased to partner with UNFPA to roll out this impressive initiative which is designed to reach young people and women in Sierra Leone with vital information.” Africell, he said, places premium on the importance of a healthy nation, “therefore we believe that if the right information is constantly emphasised and communicated, it creates a paradigm shift in perception and behaviour.”

About UNFPA

UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, working in more than 150 countries and territories that are home to the vast majority of the world’s people. Our mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.

About Africell

Africell is an African mobile technology company. We provide fast, low-cost and reliable mobile network coverage and related value-added technology services to millions of individuals, communities and business in four vibrant African countries.  Africell is the market leading operator in Sierra Leone and The Gambia and is a vibrant challenger in The Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. Africell is a disruptor: keen to challenge inefficiencies, embrace fresh thinking and deliver innovative products and services which make a practical difference to people every day. Our corporate social responsibility and positive community impact, as well as our entrepreneurial spirit and transparent business activities, makes Africell the ideal mobile network provider for Africa’s future.

www.africell.com

______________________________________________________

For more information, please contact:

John Baimba Sesay

Web and Media Analyst

Email: jsesay@unfpa.org

Tel:    +232-30-953-193

John Konteh

Media Relations Manager

Email: jkonteh@africell.sl

+232-77-928-401

Government Commends Orange-SL in COVID-19 Fight

By Foday Moriba Conteh

Orange Sierra Leone, the country’s leading telecommunication operator, has not ceased to amaze citizens with its activities, especially in times of crisis. This COVID-19 fight is a case in point.  It has not only bagged commendation from members of the public, but most recently from the government. Its stance during this fight through the introduction of user friendly bundles and promotions has provided many Sierra Leoneans and other nationals residing in the country the opportunity to connect with their loved ones across the globe.

Recently, on 23rd April 2020, Orange was commended by the Emergency Response Team at Cockrill, off Wilkinson Road, for providing them and health workers in the frontline with free ‘Wanpot Bundle’ offers, as a sign of its continued support to the government and people in the fight against the disease. “Let me, on behalf of the Government, Coordinator and colleagues at Covid-19 National Response Centre, express immense appreciation to the management and staff of Orange SL,” Solomon Jamiru Esq, Spokesperson for COVID-19 National Response Team stated.

Orange SL’s gift to each Healthcare worker at the 3 designated COVID-19 Treatment Centres of 34 hospital, Jui hospital and Lungi government hospital and EOC Team includes: Le150,000 per month for voice calls to all destinations, 5GB data and 600 sms on net. This gesture provides these workers the opportunity to pass on vital information to their colleagues, handle timely information from across the country and respond adequately and timely to any unfolding situation. It further links them with their partners across the world on any development in the fight against the disease and also enables staff to keep constantly with their families, providing assurance of their safety.

On the 20th March 2020, the Management of the company announced additional measures to ensure that its network and services remain uninterrupted during the current coronavirus outbreak ravaging the world. This move on the part of Orange Sierra Leone comes amidst concerns that the new coronavirus (COVID-19) could affect telecommunications companies and disrupt mobile and internet services, resulting in commendation from the public for its worthwhile contributions to the fight against the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).

It also comes in the wake of consensus from global experts that the viability and stability of telecommunications networks are essential in the on-going fight against the COVID-19.

Orange SL maintained that the rapid spread of the coronavirus prompted the company to put in place a multipronged approach that would enable the company to protect its staff and customers, support Government’s on-going efforts and at the same time continue to provide uninterrupted quality and affordable services to customers across the country.

According to Orange officials, “We are a socially and ethically responsible company. It is our duty to do whatever we can to ensure the continuation of telecommunications services, while also taking measures to protect our staff and customers who need service.” It was also stated that the measures would ensure the continuation of all of Orange Sierra Leone’s products and services availability including voice, SMS, data communications, SIM cards, scratch cards and Orange Money services.

The company deployed handwashing stations and digital temperature readers at all its major selling points and ensures surfaces are being frequently sanitized and that ‘social distancing’ protocols are also being implemented, both at selling points and offices: “We are drastically reducing the number of people who can enter a service delivery point at any one time and customers can queue in good conditions, with chairs and shade, with the necessary distance,” Officials say. Members of the public are encouraged to call 117 if they experience fever, tiredness and cough.

Government has now made it mandatory for everyone to wear a cloth face mask in public spaces. Enforcement mechanisms are in place, so everyone is advised to secure a cloth face mask.

The Public is further encouraged to continue frequent washing of hands with soap or use hand sanitizer; avoid touching one’s eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands; cough or sneeze into their upper arm or sleeve; and avoid close contact (arms stretched length) from others, especially in crowded areas.

 

COVID-19 Update

Covid-19

By Foday Moriba Conteh

Sierra Leone has recorded eighteen (18) new active cases of COVID-19. The current total of cumulative positive confirmed cases of COVID-19 is 82.

There is three (3) death reported of a 76, 69 and a 37 year old man who was admitted at the Connaught hospital and Choithram Memorial Hospital respectively.

The first case died before he was proved positive of COVID-19 at the Connaught hospital and NOT at the 34 Military Hospital Treatment Centre, the second person to die of Covid19 was a patient at the Choitram Hospital who’d gone there for some other health reason and a 37-year-old man has died of #Covid19 bringing to three those claimed by the disease. All of them in the last three days.

He’s the youngest to die of the disease in the country. According to the EOC, he had gone to the main referral hospital, Connaught, where he met the case definition for coronavirus. He died before his specimen could be collected for testing. Dead swab samples however tested positive for #Covid19.

According to the Covid19 spokesman, Solomon Jamiru, the second case of a 69-year-old man showed signs of coronavirus and later tested positive for it and he passed away as he was being transferred to the 34 military hospital for isolation and treatment,

The 70 COVID-19 active cases currently under observation are being managed in isolation centers. All are in stable condition.

The total number of persons currently in quarantine is 891. The total number of persons that have been discharged from quarantine is 1,259.

Members of the public are encouraged to call 117 if they experience fever, tiredness and cough.

Government has now made it mandatory for everyone to wear a cloth face mask in public spaces. Enforcement mechanisms are in place, so everyone is advised to secure a cloth face mask.

The Public is further encouraged to continue frequent washing of hands with soap or use hand sanitizer; avoid touching one’s eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands; cough or sneeze into their upper arm or sleeve; and avoid close contact (arms stretched length) from others, especially in crowded areas.

The Government of Sierra Leone has decided to provide frontline healthcare workers with required incentives for the treatment and medical care of persons with COVID-19 thus:

a. Cash risk allowance in lieu of their PAYE (Pay As You Earn) tax deductions for a period of three months commencing lst April, 2020, subject to review.

b. A life insurance policy encompassing payment to the next-of-kin of any frontline healthcare worker that loses his/her life in providing treatment to persons infected with COVID-19.

c. Free tuition and other forms of educational support for a maximum of three (3) children up to 1st degree level, for any healthcare worker who loses his/her life in the discharge of their duties.

d. A COVID-19 weekly allowance, including compensation for daily food, board and lodging, to frontline healthcare workers in treatment centres (Acute), Isolation centres (Mild), Laboratory and quarantine centres/homes.

The public is encouraged to take good care of their health to help protect against COVID-19. Take children for marklate and go to the hospital for Antenatal Care (ANC), safe delivery, malaria testing and treatment, and other regular care. Hospitals remain the safest places to go for health checks, treatment and care.

A Couple of Positives from the Ravages of Covid-19

Alfie Barrie (Television Anchor)

By Alfie Barrie (Television Anchor and Columnist)

It is important to note that this piece is not in any way aimed at stoking a sense of complacency in the general populace. Rather, this piece aims at complementing Government’s effort in blunting the chain of transmission. The media is currently galore with mostly apocalyptic narrations of this Covid19 virus which fills people’s head with a lot of negativity which psychologists have agreed will lead to depression and other related mental illnesses.

I admonish all after taking a cursory look at this piece to Google “The law of attraction in relation to quantum physics”. The crux of that theoretical underpinning posits the concept of always harnessing the mind towards positivity. One needs to fantasize great things in the mind and before you know it will translate into reality. Nearly 50% of the world’s population are currently locked up in their homes and many Governments, even those with liberal democracies, are resulting to restrictive measures to curb the spread of this respiratory virus.

It is important that people do not panic! This is not the first time the world has been plagued by pernicious pandemics. In fact we’ve had several of them such as the Plague of Athens 430 B.C, the Antonine Plague AD 165-180, the Cocolitzli Epidemic and of course the great Spanish Flu of 1918-1920 which infected 500 million people and one-fifth of those infected died with some indigenous communities pushed to the brink of extinction (Otis Historical Archives, National Museum of Health and Medicine).

Humanity was battered, shaken but survived. Covid19 is much more contagious but not as fatal as Ebola. According to the WHO, out of every hundred infections only two or three will eventually succumb to the virus and mostly the aged with underlying health condition are likely to die from the virus.

If you are young, agile and without any underlying health condition and you don’t consume excessive alcohol and other illegal substances and you maintain a healthy diet even when you are infected there is greater chance that you will pull through.

Also, the advent of this pandemic has issued a rallying cry for world leaders to invest in our public health systems. As of now, there are over a dozen vaccine researches currently ongoing and most of them seem to be showing positive signs. It is expected that there will be a vaccine for Covid-19 in the next sixteen months. So cheer up!

Again the outbreak of the Covid-19 has quashed the normally over blown superiority contest that the West normally projects over Africans. Now we are all into this together.

In fact Africa seem to be less scared by this scourge therefore Africans are much more resilient that you think so after this, the South- West disparity will dissipate and we will all work as equal partners. Again, the Covid-19 has rendered the anachronistic class system redundant. Now haves and the have nots are sailing in the same boat and in fact the privileged seem to be the worst hit.

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