Orange SL Pro-Active Contributions in COVID-19 Fight Has Been Highly Commended

April 22, 2020

By Foday Moriba Conteh

Many have commended Orange Sierra Leone (SL), the country’s leading Telecoms Company, for its worthwhile contributions to the fight against the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19).

On the 20 March 2019, Management of the company announced additional measures to ensure that its network and services remain uninterrupted during the current coronavirus outbreak which is affecting much of 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.

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

Chief Executive Officer of Orange Sierra Leone, Aminata Kane Ndiaye, acknowledged that the rapid spread of the coronavirus has led the Orange Sierra Leone team to put in place a multipronged approach that would enable the company to protect its staff and customers, support Government’s ongoing efforts and at the same time continue to provide uninterrupted quality and affordable services to customers across the country.

According to Aminata Kane Ndiaye: “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.” She stated further 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 hand washing stations and digital temperature readers at all its major selling points and ensures surfaces are being frequently sanitized. Aminata says 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.”

CEO Aminata Kane Ndiaye nevertheless encouraged customers to use the digital channels such as My Orange mobile application, and Orange Money to manage their services or check their balances. And if customers need to contact the company, they are also encouraged to send a message to Orange Sierra Leone by Facebook Messenger (@orangesl).

David Mansaray, Head of Orange Money, has also encouraged customers to use Orange Money for transactions because of the ease, convenience and security of the service. He stated: “By using Orange Money, our customers are able to purchase goods, voice or data bundles, or pay their bills without having to use cash or even having to leave their homes and go into potentially crowded spaces.”

He added that in order to facilitate the usage of Orange Money, the company has decided to waive all fees on money transfer, merchant payment and bank to wallet (push pull) for 30 days, which might be prolonged if need be.

The Management of Orange also revealed that staff ,who are coming to work will follow the same safety measures as customers and will also practice safe social distancing. “We are monitoring the prevailing situation and will continue to adjust our responses as necessary, but no matter what, our goal will be to ensure uninterrupted quality service,” David Mansaray concluded.

As usual, during epidemics, all business entities in Sierra Leone contribute either financially or materially to the State coffers so that the authorities can adequately respond to the health threat.

By all indications, Orange SL is one of the business entities taking the lead to defeat COVID-19. The company’s contributions stand as a glowing testimony.
Since COVID-19 broke out in China sometime in November, last year, Sierra Leone Government embarked on proactive or preventive measures to forestall a COVID-19 outbreak in the country.

By its commitment to the fight, it is no gainsaying that Orange SL is working hands in glove with the Government to ensure a safe Sierra Leone.

Since information is crucial to the prevention of the virus, Orange SL came up with an information sharing strategy of zero-rating URL links. The strategy works well as it enhances access to messages of Prevention of COVID-19.

Being relentless and poised to see COVID-19 defeated, in March this year, Orange SL donated personal protective equipment to the people of Constituency 112 in the Western Area Rural district which hosts the telecoms company headquarters. The Member of Parliament, Hon. Haja Miatta Amara who represented the constituency in parliament received the items on behalf of her people.

In the same month, the telecoms company also bolstered the effort of Government through the donation of hand washing materials to the people of Constituency 128 in the West End of the capital including Wilberforce, Tengbeh Town and Hill Station.

The donated materials including veronica buckets, hand sanitisers, soap, gloves and other protective gears are meant to be used by residents in the Constituency. The donations were a direct response to requests made by Parliamentarians of the two Constituencies, Hon. Haja Miatta and Hon. Benjamin Turay.

On 2nd April, this year, almost three weeks ago, Orange SL launched the WANPOT package for ease of communication throughout Sierra Leone. The WANPOT package combines prepaid and post-paid features that give customers a monthly bundle of a fixed price with abundant data allowance. The offer has a price tag as low as Le150, 000 so that customers could have abundant voice minutes for local and international calls, data and SMS.

The product targets specifically corporate institutions, businesses and high profiled individuals. The new product, according to Orange SL, proffers solutions to most of the issues that the traditional post-paid service could not solve.

With the new offer, customers can control their flow with the flexibility of recharging as and when necessary or when monthly limit is exhausted at the comfort of one’s home.
On 16th April this year, Orange SL launched free on-line studies for pupils and students in secondary schools and universities. Through it, pupils and students can access teaching and lecturing programmes on-line free of cost.

Under the free on-line studies, schools and colleges can also enjoy free browsing on several learning sites such as the Ministry of Basic and Senior School Education (MBSSE) on-line classroom, Wikipedia, Khan Academy Open2Study and many more.

Pupils and students can also visit http://www.orange.sl/personal/1/101/orange -education-2986.html and other additional links without paying for the services.

The provision of the on-line services is made possible through the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Orange SL and MBSSE to offer zero-rated education portals to schools and colleges country-wide in the COVID-19 period.
The leading telecoms company has also established a healthy and direct relationship with the Ministry of Information and Communications (MOIC) to intensify the campaign against COVID-19.

Also, the company, in collaboration with MOIC, is undertaking an intensive and robust sensitisation on the prevention of the deadly virus. Towards that direction, the company has zero rated the following sites: MOIC-http://www.mic.gov.sl, World Health Organisation-https://www.who.int/ and the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention-https://www.cdc.gov./.

With the availability of these facilities, the clientele can get free access to adequate and accurate information on the precautionary measures against COVID-19.
Besides, plans are underway to provide hand washing facilities and digital temperature readers in public places as effective and efficient preventive measures against the virus.

The Corona Virus Disease has become the most tragic in the world’s modern history. Since its outbreak, it has taken a death toll of over 177, 775, Over 2,557,299 cases globally are responding to medical services in treatment centres while others are in quarantine facilities.

Govt. Urges Citizens to use Face Mask

April 20, 2020

By Foday Moriba Conteh

As the country continues to record positive cases of the coronavirus, the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Information and Communications has on Saturday 18^th April, 2020 in a release urged Sierra Leoneans to wear face cloth masks in order to contain the spread of the coronavirus in the country.

It maintained that Sierra Leone as of Saturday 18^th April, 2020 recorded four (4) new cases bringing the total number of positive confirmed cases of COVID-19 to 30, adding that the four new cases were in quarantine and are linked to previous cases.

The Release disclosed that currently, there is no death and all the 30 confirmed COVID-19 cases are being managed in isolation centers and they are all in stable condition further highlighting that the total number of persons quarantined is 532 and 1,012 have been discharged from quarantine.

The Ministry is encouraging members of the public to call 117 in cases of experiencing fever, tiredness and cough and further advised to wear cloth face masks in all public spaces including Government offices, hospitals, markets and transport services.

“All transport operators, drivers and riders must wear cloth masks. For information on cloth mask and how to use them correctly, visit www.dhse.gov.sl The Public is also advised to wash hands with soap and water frequently 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 and at social gatherings,” the Ministry cautioned.

It went further to encourage members of the public to take good care of their health to help protect against COVID-19 and urged parents to take their children for marklates and go to the hospital for Antenatal Care (ANC), safe delivery, malaria testing and treatment, and other regular treatments registering that the Hospital remains the safest place to go for health checks, treatment and care.

SLAJEC Disqualifies WIMSAL Election Result

April 20, 2020

By Foday Moriba Conteh

The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists Electoral Commission (SLAJEC) disqualified the Women in the Media Sierra Leone (WIMSAL) result outcome on the basis of not meeting the threshold of a credible and transparent process. This disclosure was made on Wednesday 15th April, 2020 after the Commission concluded its investigations into the entire electoral process.

The Commission noted that on the 5th December, 2019, the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists Electoral Commission (SLAJEC) received a petition from “Team Mariama Khai-Fornah” led by Aminata Finda Massaquoi in which it raised a number of concerns, most of them bordering on the voter register that was used for the conduct of the elections, and based on which the “Team” rejected the outcome of the WIM-SAL Elections held on 30th November, 2019 in Kenema City. Also contained in the organization’s petition letter has to do with an issue with one of the SLAJEC Commissioners whom some have said should be excluded from the investigation process.

The Commission maintained that the investigation process did not go on immediately after the petition was filed because SLAJEC lacked funding to undertake the inquiry. Funding was subsequently provided by the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) and the Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG) in the week of 16th March, 2020 following which SLAJEC conducted the inquiry by engaging persons of interest in three regional cities and Freetown.

Underscoring its findings the Commission noted that in the Western Area pursuant to Article VII (A)(i) of the WIMSAL Constitution, “…a member other than a Public Relations Officer in any parastatal shall vote but shall not qualify for election to an executive position upon fulfillment of the following requirements:

Fully paid up members of WIMSAL must have registered with WIMSAL for at least three years before their nominations and that because it is unclear whether the three-year eligibility criterion is applicable to both registration and payment of membership dues or applicable only to registration SLAJEC contacted the outgone President, Tiana Alpha for any interpretation.

Ms. Alpha told SLAJEC that they agreed in one of their meetings that members should pay membership dues for the three previous years or at least for two years to be eligible to vote and be voted for. That assertion was contradicted by the National Secretary General, Fatima Sesay who said that they eventually agreed that payment of one-year membership dues is enough to qualify members to vote.

The Commission noted that regardless of the contradiction between the outgone National President and the Secretary General, SLAJEC pointed out that from the available records there are only four (4) paid up members for three years; seventeen (17)paid up members for two years and forty-six (46) members paid for one year only. Meanwhile, all members in the Western Area that voted during that election appear to be eligible to vote and five (5) members were disqualified from voting by SLAJEC because documents could not be tendered by the WIM-SAL Secretariat in Kenema to support their membership status but were subsequently found to be eligible members.

The Commission further revealed that in the Southern Region all 31 members that voted paid their membership dues for only one year contrary to what the immediate past President said they agreed on and that the Regional Executive could not tender evidences of membership (filled membership forms) of members to prove their membership.

They also maintained that receipts issued to WIMSAL members were not done in sequence, adding that a receipt was issued to one member on 22nd November, 2019 before issuance of another receipt on 11th November, 2019 and that this is a consistent pattern of such non-sequence of dates across the receipts book, but said that the explanation given was that the dates were captured on the receipts book in a non-sequential order because they decided to use the dates on the bank slips instead of capturing the dates on which the bank slips were presented to the Financial Secretary. However, no evidence was tendered to back that claim.

And that for both the Eastern Region Twenty-one (21) members paid for a year and only two (2) members paid for two years, contrary to what the National President said was agreed on before the elections and that the Regional Executive tendered no evidences of membership (filled membership forms) to prove their membership and there were no receipts available for six (6) members who voted and Two (2) people who voted in election could not be accounted for in terms of their region and/or the media institution they are working for.

It was against such backdrop that the Commission concluded that the majority of members who voted in that election were not eligible to vote when judged against the background of the criteria for eligibility to vote, pursuant to Article VII (A) (i) of the WIMSAL Constitution couple with what the National President said was agreed on in one of their meetings and that moreover, there were no proof of evidence that the entire membership in the South and Eastern Regions are bona fide members of WIM-SAL.

“Based on those findings, SLAJEC is of the conviction that the WIM-SAL elections conducted on the 30th November, 2019 at the Albertson Hotel in Kenema City did not meet the threshold of a credible and transparent process,”the Commission disclosed.

In relation to the release by SLAJEC Team Mariama Khai Fornah’s on Friday 17^th April, 2020 made their Position on a press release on the SLAJEC Report noting that on the 5th December 2019 they petitioned the outcome of the Women in the Media Sierra Leone (WIMSAL) Elections held in November 2019 on the basis to draw the attention of The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists Electoral Commission’s (SLAJEC) to the fraudulent activities that took place during election.

The Team maintained that although the SLAJEC, upon receipt of the petition gave their team six weeks from the petitioned date to look into the report, six weeks elapsed on grounds that the parent body, Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) ,did not provide funding to undertake investigations into our claims. Subsequently, adding that a handing over by the outgone WIMSAL President, Tiana Alpha was done to the petitioned President even after SLAJEC had initially sanctioned that ceremony, as they were to look into the petition.

Almost two months later, SLAJEC in a public notice informed that SLAJ provided the funds to undertake the investigation and that on 15th April 2020, the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists Electoral Commission issued their report on the said petition and their team has digested the report.

The Team therefore underscored the following:

That they are satisfied with the outcome of the investigations by SLAJEC and fully endorsed the report saying they will remain committed to peace within the media landscape and would give their fullest support to maintain that peace. It was stated that they have advised their presidential candidate to ignore the electoral discrepancies and forge ahead with pursuing her personal journalistic goals, in a bid to maintain peace within the female media caucus.

They extended gratitude to all those who stood by them and believe in their vision to see that due diligence is done to the electoral process.

ACC Launches Covid-19 Response Transparency Task Force

April 20, 2020

By Foday Moriba Conteh

Friday 17th April, 2020 the Anti-Corruption Commission released a Press Release in which it informed the general public that it has established and launched the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) Response Transparency Task Force charged with the primary role to ensure and instill integrity, accountability and transparency in the utilization and management of funds relating to the COVID-19 response activities.

The ACC appealed to those who engaged in the receipt and utilization of COVID-19 funds to be mindful of the provisions of the Budget and Accountability Act of 2006 and the Anti-Corruption Act of 2008 as Amended in 2019, dealing with Mismanagement and Misappropriation of Public and Donor Funds and Properties.

ACC also highlighted that all National and International Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) are encouraged to make public any money, donation or pledge received for and on behalf of the People of Sierra Leone in regard to the control and containment of the coranavirus pandemic and that any complaint of suspected acts of corruption and or corrupt practices in the Corona Virus Response programmes will be investigated as a matter of priority and urgency under the Anti-Corruption Act 2008 as Amended in 2019.

The ACC further urged to make any complaint or report to the ACC at its 3 Gloucester Street or any of their regional offices across the country and the Commission further reassuring the public of its undeterred commitment to controlling corruption at all levels.

KaDSU Takes Coronavirus Awareness Campaign to Karene District

April 20, 2020

IMG-20200420-WA0074 — Cross Section of members Karene District Students Union

By Foday Moriba Conteh

In a bid to complement the efforts of the Government to reach out to communities with preventive messages against the coronavirus, the Karene District Students Union on Thursday 16^th April, 2020 concluded a 5 day door to door community sensitization on the causes and prevention of the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) at Karene District starting in Kamakwie Township and ending up at Tambahka Chiefdom as part of the Union’s support towards curtailing the spread of the Covid-19 in the country.

Speaking to this Press, President of the Karene District Students Union, Benjamin Abu Turay, disclosed that the door to door sanitization was geared towards educating and creating awareness to prevent the transmission and spread of the coronavirus, adding that during the awareness raising they also donated soaps to all the communities they visited and residents were sensitized on hand washing as a preventive measure against contracting the current world pandemic.

He stated that the current sensitization drive is carried out as a way of complementing Government’s effort in the fight against CoVID-19 furthering how the awareness will enable beneficiaries to sensitize the community people especially on the mode of transmission, signs and symptoms as well as the preventive measures against COVID-19. Turay also highlighting that some communities in Karene District like Tambahka are border communities that they are at high risks.

He encouraged all to observe the necessary personal hygiene guides and to adhere to the directives of the Government. He also admonished them to adopt the practice of hand washing demonstrated to them in order to curtail the spared of the virus in the country.

He called on organizations and individuals to support the Union as saying they are currently challenged in terms of resources in order to continue the door to door sensitization.

Mariama Conteh, a resident of Karene, expressed delight for the inspirational and encouraging messages from KaDSU bordering on the importance of taking ownership of the fight against the coronavirus in the country. She urged residents to make good use of the messages and adhere to the preventive measures.

In appreciation, District Medical Officer, Karene District, Dr. Sheriff Chernor Jalloh hailed the team for taking such a venture describing it as a timely intervention at a moment like this when people need every awareness on coronavirus causes and prevention. He also underscored their assiduous and relentless work in tandem with other stakeholders to curtail the spread of the COVID-19 in the country.

A representative of the Paramount Chief for Sella Limba, Pa Balla Bangura also expressed appreciation to the Union for taking coronavirus awareness campaign to Karene District. He assured them of their support in carryout the said campaign in the district and called on residents of Karene District to ensure that they make good use of the information received and also implement the preventive measures.

Religious Booklet on Coronavirus Out

April 20, 2020

By Foday Moriba Conteh

A group of Muslim and Christian leaders in Sierra Leone have jointly published a booklet of messages tailored for those poised against the fight of the coronavirus disease.

The booklet was unveiled at a meeting of the religious leaders from the Christian Action Group (CRISTAG) and Islamic Action Group (ISLAG) held at the conference hall of Sierra Leone’s Council of Churches.

The messages contained in the booklet were adopted from the guidelines of the country’s Ministry of Health and Sanitation.

Imam Dr Ramadan Jalloh, Coordinator of ISLAG, said the booklet represented the role of religious leaders in the national efforts to fight the virus, which he described as a Divine obligation.

He cited verses in the Holy Quran and teachings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) to justify the messages that encourage people to obey advices of medical professionals to keep safe from the virus.

Reverend Christiana Sutton-Koroma, National Coordinator of CRISTAG, presented the messages adopted from the Christian gospel. “As religious leaders, we must speak with one voice and not with conflicting messages in the fight against coronavirus,” she said.

The booklet titled “Religious Messages on Coronavirus” will be distributed nationwide.

Aki-Sawyerr Comes on Board C40 Cities Global Mayor COVID-19 Recovery Task Force

April 20, 2020

By Foday Moriba Conteh

Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, a member of the inaugural cohort of the Amujae Initiative and Mayor of Freetown, Sierra Leone has been appointed to the C40 Cities Global Mayors COVID-19 Recovery Task Force.

The task force is chaired by Giuseppe Sala, Mayor of Milan, Italy and will “see leading mayors worldwide collaborate to achieve an economic recovery from COVID-19 that enables people to get back to work, while preventing climate breakdown from becoming an even bigger crisis that halts the global economy and threatens the lives and livelihoods of people everywhere.”

Highlighting Mayor Aki-Sawyerr’s extensive leadership experience in public health crises, C40 Cities said:

“The task force will be made up of representatives of mayors from every region within the C40 network, many of whom have unparalleled specialist expertise – including Mayor of Freetown Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, who was Director of Planning at the National Ebola Response Centre of Sierra Leone during the 2014-15 Ebola epidemic.”

Negotiations of $10m Supplementary Funding of the Pendembu – Kailahun Road Project Ends

April 20, 2020

By Amin Kef Sesay

On Friday 17th April, 2020 the Government of Sierra Leone has completed negotiations for supplementary financing of $10 Million with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) for the construction of the Pendembu – Kailahun road project at the Ministry of Finance’s video conference room.

It could be recalled that in 2012, the Government of Sierra Leone signed a $15.45 Million financing agreement with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) for the construction of the road. The civil works was awarded to China Henan International Construction Company (CHICO) for $24.168 Million of which 68% was IsDB’s Contribution and 32% Government of Sierra Leone.

According to Ing. Amara Kanneh, Director General SLRA, the project was faced with some challenges because over the years Government was not able to pay its share of the total project cost. This is why he said the Government approached the Bank to ask for supplementary funding to cover the gap and allow the project to be completed.

Unfortunately, it is been revealed since the project was launched in 2017, not a single cent was paid by the previous administration. When the SLPP took over, the Government has committed Le6.0 billion and paid compensation to project affected persons over Le2.0 billion, realizing the money is insufficient to get the road to the Kailahun Court Barry, President Bio intervenes directly to ensure that 100 percent funding is made available to finish the project.

In his presentation, Mouchili Mayoua, Operation Team Lead (Transport and Connectivity) of the Islamic Development Bank stated that concluding these negotiations indicates that the Bank has agreed in principle to provide the funds depending the board’s approval when they meet in June.

The supplementary funding he said, will be provided under the same terms and conditions of the previous loan signed in 2012 and that it will take the total cost of the Project to $26.05 Million with IsDB financing 98% and the Government of Sierra Leone 2%.

In his statement, the Financial Secretary Sahr Lahai Jusu commended the Bank for this development, stating that the people of Kailahun can now be assured that this road project will be completed and the road will enter Kailahun town.

He also informed IDB team that the African Development Bank President, during his recent visit to Sierra Leone committed to President Bio $40.0 million as financing to the Kailahun-Koindu road.

On this note, the IDB negotiating team also committed that the Bank is examining the Government request to contribute to the Kailahun-Koindu Road and they will reach decision in June 2020.

He continued that the Government is pleased to continue with the same terms and condition as he considered the loan to be highly concessional.

He appeal to the Bank and relevant agencies of government to fast track all necessary arrangement to ensure timely cabinet approval and parliamentary ratification after the IsDB board approval in June.

The negotiating team from the Government of Sierra Leone includes the Deputy Minister of Finance 2 Ahmed FantaMahdi Bangura, the Financial Secretary Sahr L. Jusu, Director General of the Sierra Leone Road Authority (SLRA) Ing.Amara Kanneh and other technical staff.

U.S. Ambassador Dilates on Collaborative Efforts to Combat COVID-19

April 20, 2020

U.S. Health Assistance Op-Ed

By U.S. Ambassador Maria E. Brewer

The story of U.S. leadership in the global battle against COVID-19 is the continuation of a longer story of global health assistance around the world. These efforts demonstrate a decades-long foundation of American expertise, generosity, and planning unmatched in history.

The United States provides aid because we believe it’s the right thing to do. We also do it because pandemics don’t respect national borders. If we can help counties contain outbreaks, we’ll save lives everywhere.

Here in Sierra Leone, the U.S. supports the current threat by strengthening surveillance, diagnostic capacity, case management, and supply chain systems, as well as contributing drugs, equipment and vehicles. Our U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative plays a key role in all of these areas, and will be pivotal in helping to mitigate the challenge of combating COVID-19 in the context of Sierra Leone, as will the Neglected Tropical Disease program that we have conducted in Sierra Leone for the past 10 years.

Our generosity and pragmatism explains why the United States was one of the first countries to help to the Chinese people as soon as reports emerged from Wuhan of another outbreak, offering immediate technical assistance to the Chinese Centers for Disease Control, and then, in

February, transporting nearly 18 tons of donated medical supplies to Wuhan. We also pledged $100 million in assistance to countries to fight what would become a pandemic – including an offer to China, which was declined.

Our response now far surpasses that initial pledge. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the U.S. government has committed nearly $500 million in assistance to date. This funding will improve public health education, protect healthcare facilities, and increase laboratory, disease-surveillance, and rapid-response capacity in more than 60 of the world’s most at risk countries– all in an effort to help contain outbreaks before they reach our shores.

As the largest funder of WHO since its founding, America’s unsurpassed contributions are also felt through the many international organizations fighting COVID-19 on the front lines.

Our country continues to be the single largest health and humanitarian donor for both long-term development and capacity building efforts across the globe, funding nearly 40% of the world’s global health assistance programs, adding up to $140 billion in investments in the past 20 years – five times more than the next largest donor. Since 2009, American taxpayers have generously funded more than $100 billion in health assistance and nearly $70 billion in humanitarian assistance globally.

Sierra Leone’s health system benefits from the foundation created by the $600 million contribution from the U.S. for response and recovery during and subsequent to the Ebola crisis. This investment improved water and sanitation and provided training for more than 500 health professionals at the primary care level. In addition, we have graduated 176 epidemiologists and more than 180 Community Health Officers have been trained in management and leadership skills.

The U.S. Government helped establish Sierra Leone’s Emergency Operations Centre, which is currently being used to coordinate COVID-19 preparedness and response. We also supported the Public Health Laboratory Rapid Response teams for the testing of Ebola and, now, COVID-19.

Our Global Health Security Agenda initiative serves as a platform to detect, prevent and respond to infectious diseases such as COVID-19. U.S. investments have provided significant support for establishment and maintenance of the electronic Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response system, making Sierra Leone the first country in the region to have electronic surveillance at health facility level. Additional ongoing U.S. support for establishment of Sierra Leone’s electronic Case Based Disease Surveillance system supports real-time reporting of individual cases of priority diseases, including COVID-19.

Further, U.S. funding helped establish the Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and supported the development of the country’s National Action Plan for Health Security. We have renovated and equipped entire laboratories in Sierra Leone, including the only Central Veterinary Lab in the country, which is state-of-the-art.

We continue to conduct extensive training of diverse cadres of health personnel for many different tasks. To cite just a few examples —

Over 200 Sierra Leonean Public Health Officers across all 16 districts have been trained in field epidemiology through the Field Epidemiology Training Program, gaining key skills in outbreak detection, investigation and control at the health facilities.
Forty-three IPC Officers have been trained in infection prevention and control practices and are providing leadership at the national and district level for COVID-19 coordination teams.

U.S. implementing partners have developed risk communication messages and printed information, education, and communication materials on COVID-19 in Sierra Leone. The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has provided HIV/AIDS support to Sierra Leone since 2016, has agreed to allow immediate funding for efforts to address COVID-19.

In addition, the U.S. Department of Defense has worked with Sierra Leone’s Office of National Security Disaster Management Department for general emergency preparedness through training on policy and planning. We have also partnered with RSLAF to strengthen the logistics capacity, which is currently playing a role in RSLAF’s border deployments to respond to COVID-19.

Our help is much more than money and supplies. It’s the experts we have deployed worldwide, and those still conducting tutorials today via teleconference. It’s the doctors and public-health professionals trained, thanks to U.S. money and educational institutions. And it’s the supply chains that we keep open and moving for U.S. companies producing and distributing high-quality critical medical supplies around the world.

As we have time and time again, the United States will aid others during their time of greatest need. The COVID-19 pandemic is no different. We will continue to help countries build resilient health care systems that can prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease outbreaks. Just as the U.S. has made the world more healthy, peaceful, and prosperous for generations, so will we lead in defeating our shared pandemic enemy and rising stronger in its wake.

SL Brewery Gallantly Joins the COVID-19 Fight

April 20, 2020

By Amin Kef Sesay

The 17^th April 2020 has gone down the annals of history of the Sierra Leone Brewery Limited (SLBL) as one when the company, in its usual posture, swiftly responded to the urgency of fighting the detestable coronavirus.

SLBL, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility and their support towards the fight against the coronavirus in the country, on that memorable day donated personal protective Equipment worth millions of Leones to the Government of Sierra Leone through the Covid-19 Response Team . The impressive donation include 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.

Presentation of the items took place at the Forecourt of the Emergency Operation Centre at Cockerill in Freetown.

Present at the ceremony were the Human Resource & Resource Mobilization Officer of the COVID-19 Response Team, Cyrus Sheriff, Member of the Strategic Planning Team, EOC Covid-19 Response Team, Moses Miller, Managing Director Designate of the Sierra Leone Brewery Limited, Laurent Bukasa, Corporate Affairs Manager, Albert Ojo Collier, Corporate Affairs Assistant, Unisa Conteh.

In his address, the Managing Director of the Sierra Leone Brewery Limited, Laurent Bukasa, expressed appreciation to the Government of Sierra Leone for its pro-activeness in putting measures in place to curtail the spread of coronavirus in the country, adding that Brewery is a partner of growth underscoring how in that regard they are extremely humbled to donate the aforementioned items to the Government and People of Sierra Leone through the Covid-19 Response Team.

He said the 2,000 litres of alcohol sanitizer were manufactured by SLBL, noting that hand washing is very key towards curtailing the spread of this virus. He said it is in that regard that they are not only donating the sanitizers but also 5 Milla Hand washing machines with accessories stressing such will be placed in various locations for people to observe regular hand washing.

He admonished citizens to adhere to the preventive measures instituted by Government and the health practitioners in order to curtail the spread of the virus in the country.

Receiving the items on behalf of the Government, a member of the Strategic Planning Team of the EOC Covid-19 Response Team, Moses Miller, expressed gratitude to the Sierra Leone Brewery Limited for the items donated praising such as a timely intervention.

He assured them that the COVID-19 Response Team will supervise the proper distribution and utilization of the donated items assuring that they will reach the targeted beneficiaries.

1...729730731...980 Page 730 of 980