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As he Joins Eminent Women to Observe International Women’s Day… Pres. Bio Pledges to Translate GEWE into Affirmative Action Bill

By Amin Kef Sesay

On the 11 March 2021 President Dr. Julius Maada Bio engaged the First Lady, Fatima Maada Bio and other eminent Sierra Leonean women on “Women in Leadership”, in commemoration of International Women’s Day.

In her presentation Fatima Bio said that the women of Sierra Leone are incredibly pleased and grateful for the President’s involvement with their efforts at observing the day in a very special way. She stated further that the level of participation of women in the day-to-day running of the State is a right step towards nation building, adding that it is also a way of supporting women and girls to benefit from the human capital development drive of the Government.

In a brief statement, the President of Legal Access through Women Yearning for Equality Rights and Social Justice (LAWYERS), Lawyer Fatmata Sorie, thanked President Bio, the First Lady and the Government of Sierra Leone for the opportunity they continue to give women to serve the nation.

“Your Excellency, we pray that your Government continues to work assiduously to see a reduction of violence against women and girls in the country. The issue of sexual penetration continues to be a challenge, but we applaud the Government for the efforts in bringing perpetrators to book,” she noted.

In his remarks, President Julius Maada Bio recalled that in December last year he launched the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Policy (GEWE) for which the Gender Ministry would host a number of workshops to develop an implementation plan at all levels.

“This year, we will continue working on legislating GEWE into an Affirmative Action Bill that will permanently and significantly narrow or eliminate gender disparities in Sierra Leone.

“We see sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) both as a social cohesion and human capital development issue. We now have an amended and tougher Sexual Offences Act, a dedicated Sexual Offences Model Court, and an unprecedented jump in prosecution and conviction rates for SGBV offences. The First Lady’s campaign against SGBV is resonating with various populations,” he said.

The President also said that their work as a Government is being recognized by UN Women, Generation Equality, RISE and that Sierra Leone had been invited to serve on the Board of the UN’s Women Peace, Security and Humanitarian Action.

He said the country was an early adopter of international instruments that served to narrow gender gaps, noting that that was an indication they were on the right path and would continue to do more.

“As I close, I want to encourage more women to volunteer for leadership regardless of political stripe. On our part as a Government, we will continue working to dismantle institutional, structural, and other barriers to women’s empowerment and advancement. I will closely follow the discussions and outcomes of this meeting and see how best they will inform or support our collective and dedicated push as a nation on this question,” he said.

Shifaa and Dialysis Center Commemorates World Kidney Day

By Foday Moriba Conteh

As part of their continuous stride to raise awareness on the essential work of kidneys in the human system, Shifaa and Dialysis Center, has on Thursday 11th March 2021, joined the world to celebrate World Kidney Day, which is observed on the second Thursday of March every year, with the theme: “Living Well with Kidney Disease”. The event took place at its Center on Campbell Street in Freetown.

Prior to the observation, Shifaa and Dialysis Center on Monday 8th March 2021 commenced a three day street sensitization on kidney health which started at Up-Gun Roundabout on the first day, then continued at Lumley on the second day and ended on Wednesday the 10th March 2021 at St. John in the West End of Freetown.

Giving his opening courtesies, Media & Marketing Coordinator of Shifaa and Dialysis Center, Amadu Wurie Barrie, highlighted that statistics show that diabetes and high blood pressure are symptoms of 75% of kidney failure cases between 2015-2017, adding that 47% of new End Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) patients had a primary diagnosis of diabetes, the leading cause of ESKD, while 29% of new ESKD patients had a primary diagnosis of hypertension, the second leading cause of ESKD.

On her part, Manager and Director of Administration, Shifaa and Dialysis Center, Dalanda Bah said the celebration of the World Kidney Day is geared towards recognizing the challenges of Kidney disease stating that they are standing side by side with Sierra Leoneans who have been diagnosed with such a predicament, adding that the day is for all those whose lives have been affected by kidney disease.

Dalanda Bah noted that the very reason why they are gathered at their facility  is because the first man in her life, her father, now late Alhaji Umaru Sillah Bah, was the very first patient of the Shifaa and Dialysis Center and as a matter of fact he was the only patient for almost a year before they were granted a permit to open up to the public.

The Director said they constructed the Center which became the Shifaa and Dialysis Center within 3 months and within 3 and half years later the number of Patients Dialyzed/Dialyzing at the Center were 181, Female 79 (43.6%) and Male 102 (56.4%), the number of patients from abroad was: 21, and 12 Sierra Leoneans.

She pointed out that at this point they are very proud of themselves considering the extreme challenges that they have been through noting that many of those challenges were unexpected.

Dalanda furthered that as the theme for this year’s World Kidney Day 2021 implies Living Well with Kidney Disease it is in line with their Center as Shifaa is the Arabic word for wellness and their motto is “Promoting Wellness and Enhancing the Quality of Life”.

She used the opportunity to recognize members of staff of the Center, referring to them as the spine of Shifaa saying these men and women have dedicated their lives to signing in at 6:00 am and signing out after the last patient leaves, responding  to their calls in the middle of the night to come dialyze emergency cases.

“Our members of staff include a Nephrologist, a physician consultant, 6 nurses, including 1 in training, 3 technicians including 1 in training, and a well-trained Janitor. We hope to continue this great work by collaborating with all hospitals and clinics in Sierra Leone for the benefit of our kidney patients,” she maintained.

Giving his keynote address, Dr. Komrabai Kanu expressed appreciation to Shifaa and Dialysis Center for the tremendous work they have been doing in saving lives and for embarking on the three day street sensitization on kidney health.

He disclosed that previously the centre was having one machine but later increased it to two machines to enhance fast and adequate service saying that it came to a point when the country was so much in need of dialysis services and in 2018 the Shifaa and Dialysis Center opened its services to the public and is functioning up to date.

He extended gratitude to the genuine people for their effort towards the growth of the Centre regardless of challenges.

A beneficiary of Shifaa and Dialysis Center, David Kandeh, revealed that he used to go for treatment at the Dialysis at Shiffa and Dialysis Centre before he travelled abroad to do kidney transplant of which he extended his gratitude to the centre for their tremendous work and courage they gave him before living the country for treatment.

He applauded the Management of Shiffa for always attending to his need whenever he comes around even after work time.

David Kandeh noted that having a Dialysis Centre in the country has been a great improvement to the health sector in the country.

Be a Lucky Winner by Purchasing NP-SL Ltd’s Castrol GTX at any Filling Station

By Amin Kef Sesay

As the clock continues to tick so the Castrol GTX Promotion is gaining momentum, evident in the fact that majority of the customers of the National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd) are now purchasing this lubricant at breakneck speed as their expectations are running high that they will be lucky winners of the Lucky Dip Draw.

As a matter of fact most have now realized that Castrol GTX is one kind of engine oil that is very essential to possess for the effective performance of their vehicles. Indeed, the promotion has added to the exposure of the petroleum marketing company as one that highly cares for its esteemed customers and would like to see them happy.

The Castrol GTX Promotion Lucky Dip Draw commenced on the 15th February 2021 and it will continue up to the 14th March 2021, meaning it will last for four weeks as part of the company’s annual activities.

Within the context of the promotion,  every time a NP-SL Ltd customer buys 5 Litre of Castrol GTX from any NP Dealer Stations, he or she automatically becomes eligible to be part of the promo and stands the chance of  winning an attractive prize.

When the customer buys 5L Castrol GTX (20w50 or GTX Diesel) he or she has the opportunity to have one dip and for the GTX Ultraclean product he or she can have 3 dips.

There are two things to be discovered on the slip after any dip which are WINNER or Sorry! Buy More GTX.

The winner leaves his or her name and telephone number with the Station Manager of the Filling Station where the Castrol lubricant was bought and he or she will be later contacted by the Sales Supervisor.

As far as the promotion is tailored no customer goes empty handed as even losers will have some form of compensation at the end of the day.

Already there are flyers that provide information about the promotion and certain sales points have been activated in order to give the Promo wider coverage.

It must be noted that the Ultraclean 10w40 Castrol Oil is a multi-grade oil that can be used in hotter countries. GTX 20w50, though good for petrol engines, is also a multi-purpose oil.

It has been established that the Castrol oil in the white rubber is the one that is most often used as it maintains temperature and can be used on petrol engines.

This medium learnt that, NP-SL Ltd, from time to time conducts trainings for automobile mechanics and the company’s pump attendants in order for them to know the various specifications which could help them to guide customers on the actual type of Castrol GTX that will suit them.

It was also learnt that the Ultra-clean Castrol oil is going for Le250, 000 and the others (Castrol Oil) for Le200, 000.

What is certain is that Castrol GTX is more than just an ordinary oil as it is considered to be liquid engineering.

From an in-depth investigation conducted it was discovered that the Castrol GTX is less costly in the sense that it can last longer compared to other lubricants of inferior quality meaning that when consideration is taken of the amount of money spent on changing engine oil of inferior quality in comparison to Castrol GTX, then it discerns that indeed it is one that is cheaper because unconsciously much money is spent on procuring inferior engine oil of various variety than what is spent on Castrol GTX within the period of purchase under review.

Besides lasting longer, Castrol GTX lubricant enhances the good performance and efficiency of motor engines, minimizes hazardous gaseous emission and helps to properly clean motor engines or machines that may have been clogged by particles.

Apart from marketing petroleum products such as diesel, petrol, gas and kerosene the company also offers for sale NP Gas which is an environmentally friendly cooker that has been proven to be very effective for cooking purposes. It is sold at the company’s Filling Stations.

The company made it possible for customers to purchase fuel conveniently without using physical cash. With the introduction of NP Smart Card customers can purchase fuel as long as the smart card contains money. Whenever it is used the amount of money is debited and it can be credited for future use.

What is certain for now is that the Castrol GTX Promotion has created huge awareness about the effectiveness of this lubricant which it is said is not just an ordinary oil but liquid engineering.

ILRAJ Releases Report on the Drivers of Increased Sexual Violence & Abuses

Institute for Legal Research and Advocacy for Justice (ILRAJ)

By Amin Kef – Ranger

The Institute for Legal Research and Advocacy for Justice (ILRAJ) has on 8th March 2021, released a report that looks at the drivers of increases in sexual violence and abuses in Sierra Leone, and what could be done to prevent their occurrence, how their victims can be cared for, how communities can be healed and perpetrators brought to book.

The report titled, “After a Few Weeks, Everything Goes Quiet-Sexual Abuse, Settlement & Survivors in Sierra Leone” found that while there is renewed vigor about addressing sexual abuse in the country in the last two years at the official state level, the prevailing sentiment amongst victims/survivors is that everything goes quiet after a few weeks and they are left with the consequences of the exposure.

It noted that while there are cases of boys being abused by men, the overwhelming majority of victims of sexual abuse in Sierra Leone are girls and women. Although the new Sexual Offence Act is designed to prevent such abuse, the report found that there is a consensus that structures and institutions at both formal and informal levels of society are disposed to letting men off the hook or only lightly punished. It noted that the perpetrators are mostly persons known to the victims/survivors, including stepfathers, neighbours and uncles. Some of the strategies employed by perpetrators to incapacitate their victims are aided and abetted entrenched practices and discourses within general Sierra Leonean society.

Dedicated to the memory of Hannah Bockarie, Kadija Saccoh and all other women and girls who have lost their lives to sexual abuse and violence in Sierra Leone, the report recommends that greater attention must be focused on the ages which most abuses tend to occur – 8 – 20, often peaking between 12 and 16. It calls for the Identification of cultural and linguistic tropes that could serve as licenses for sexual abuse or translate into justifications for sexual abuse.  These include music, sermons, proverbs, and other cultural notions that normalize anti-women sentiments and valorize sex as means of control and ways of asserting male superiority. It urges Government and all its development partners to ‘Go very big on educating adolescent girls and boys on sexual abuse and violence and reproductive health.’

The research was conducted from September to November 2020 and undertaken by a team including Mohamed Gibril Sesay, Fatmata Bundu, Haja Mariama Fofonah, Princess Lewis and Ibrahim Lamin.

ILRAJ CEO Basita Michael described the report as “timely and groundbreaking even though it makes for depressing reading.” She noted that “eliminating all forms of violence against all women and girls including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation and ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights are key indicators to achieving Goal 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).” “Government, development partners and every Sierra Leonean must do a lot more to ensure that our women and girls are protected and are not subject to sexual violence or abuse in any form,” she stated.

The Institute for Legal Research and Advocacy for Justice (ILRAJ) is an independent non-partisan public policy research and think tank established to monitor and contribute to the protection of human rights and increase awareness and understanding of and promote, women’s and children’s rights. The full report can be accessed and downloaded from their website https://www.ilraj.org/sexual-abuse-settlement-and-survivors-in-sierra-leone/

For further information, please email: ilraj2@optimum.net twitter: @ILRAJ2

Orange-SL Investment Drive to Modernize Network Infrastructure is Impressive

By Foday Moriba Conteh

Barely 5 years ago, Orange (SL) started an ambitious project to transform and modernize its network infrastructure and enhance service delivery to its valued customers. The desire to increase customer satisfaction with the fastest internet speed on the widest coverage was central to this dream.

Today, it is incontrovertible that Orange SL is the leader in terms of network quality for voice, internet speed and coverage. Currently the company has far more sites than any other telecom service provider in the country with more than 445 sites carrying voice and data with the best customer experience nationwide.

Orange is one of the leading telecommunications operators in the world, present in 29 countries with 154,000 employees worldwide. Orange operates in about 20 countries in Africa meaning that one in every 10 people is an Orange customer.

Orange acquired the Airtel operations in Sierra Leone in July 2016 and was recorded as the first company to invest in Sierra Leone immediately following the end of the Ebola epidemic.

Since the inception of Orange operations in Sierra Leone, the company has invested over $112 million dollars in the areas of network modernization and expansion; human resource as well as corporate social responsibility.

The company further invested about $96 million dollars in modernizing and expanding its network infrastructure. This investment resulted in the construction of about 94 new sites mainly in the rural areas, the modernization of the company’s passive infrastructure and active RAN equipment, the replacement of all core equipment, the implementation of a new intelligent network platform for prepaid billing management; the establishment of a new switch to handle voice traffic, a new packet core for the internet traffic and the launch of a new Data Centre.

That exceptional and incomparable work done so far resulted to the connection of about 925 new localities with thousands of Sierra Leoneans now accessing data, voice and financial services for the first time.

In respect of human resource, Orange invested about $16 million dollars in the last two years. The company prides itself in capacity building by ensuring that its employees benefit from soft skills, technical and leadership trainings. The company nurtures talent from on-boarding; ensures retention and provides exposure opportunities to other Orange affiliates.

Orange being a multi-service provider and a responsible corporate citizen places emphasis on corporate social investment. In just two years, the company invested about $ 400,000 dollars mainly in the areas of women empowerment, health, education and the environment.

Orange remains the first operator in Sierra Leone to have contributed to the Government’s Free Quality Education (FQE) agenda by pledging the sum of $1.5m in material assistance over a period of five years starting from 2019.

Orange  launched the first Coding School in Sierra Leone in partnership with the Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) with an estimated cost of about Le2.75 billion ($308,000).

As part of the company’s strategic ambition for Sierra Leone, Orange is present in the country with a strong industrial project that will lead to invest significantly to cover most of the population in the country with telecoms and mobile financial services. This is why orange is committed to invest additionally in order to build new sites, and to extend its 4G Services to the rest of the country.

Orange remains committed to providing the best telecom services in Sierra Leone ensuring its customers get an “unmatched” experience.

 

 

 

 

Indian company’s nasal vaccine for Covid-19 likely to be a game-changer

Bharat Biotech is set to start phase 1 of clinical trials for its nasal vaccine soon | Representative image from AFP

In the summer of the year 2020, the Chairman and Managing Director of India’s premier vaccine developing company, Bharat Biotech International Limited, told the press that while efforts were on to develop an intramuscular vaccine against Covid-19, what he really would want to do is develop a vaccine that will be easy to administer like ‘polio drops’.

The analogy of polio drops drawn to a vaccine against Covid-19 at that point seemed like a tall order. However, a year later, that vision is coming close to reality and it has got the medical fraternity excited.

Dr Krishan Ella’s Bharat Biotech has started the process of screening potential clinical trial participants at four centres in India – Nagpur, Hyderabad, Patna and Chennai for their new nasal vaccine against Covid19.

The process of recruitment, sources say, will take two to three days and we can expect the trial to start by early next week. The number of subjects in the first phase of the nasal vaccine trial would be 125.

The product on trial is BBV154, a novel adenovirus vectored, intranasal vaccine.

As per Bharat Biotech’s website, “An intranasal vaccine stimulates a broad immune response neutralising IgG, mucosal IgA, and T cell responses and creates an immune response at the site of infection (in the nasal mucosa) essential for blocking both infection and transmission of Covid-19.”

SO WHY IS A NASAL VACCINE BETTER

COST-EFFECTIVE

“It will be cheaper and cost-effective and there would be ease of administration with no injections,” says Dr Sanjeev Bagai, an avid vaccine watcher and chairman at the Nephron Clinic in Delhi. Bharat Biotech has said that the scalability to manufacture this would help meet the global demand.

NON-INVASIVE/EASE OF ADMINISTRATION

That it is non-invasive and needle-free is an added advantage. The nasal vaccine will not require trained healthcare workers as it would go inside the nasal cavity like drops. This would also eliminate the injuries and infections associated with needles.

KILLS THE VIRUS AT THE DOORSTEP

“The nasal route has excellent potential for vaccination due to the organised immune systems of the nasal mucosa,” says Dr Bagai.

“Eight-two per cent of SARSCoV2 transmission occurs through the nasal passage. It takes 6-15 hours for the virus to zone into hAlveolar type 2 cells in the lungs to precipitate the cytogenic release to cause ARDS. The concentration of ACE2R is maxed in the nasal passage. The sentinel cells around the nerves are rich in receptors to cause invasion of the host,” explains Dr Bagai.

“The protein enzyme called Neuropilin is responsible to cause the fusion to host. Neuropilin is in high concentration in sentinel nasal cells. The IgA maximises in the nasal area by 29 per cent. This causes quicker protection and response to the vaccine. Therefore, it’s a very good move,” says Dr Bagai.

COULD IMPROVE VACCINE COVERAGE

Professor Giridhara Babu, a renowned epidemiologist, agrees with Dr Bagai.

“A vaccine administered intranasally, if approved after clinical trials, will be a game-changer. Some of the adverse effects related to vaccination can be attributed to how injections are administered. An intranasal vaccine, if proved to be free of adverse effects, will help in improving the vaccine coverage. Since the virus harbours in the nasopharynx, it will be interesting to examine its efficacy in inducing local immunity. If yes, then this might turn out to be better than other vaccines in terms of preventing the infection,” says Professor Giridhara Babu.

SAFE AND SUITED FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS

“The nasal vaccine can have high compliance as it would be ideally suited for children and adults,” says Bharat Biotech.

Dr Bagai, a practicing pediatrician, also believes so. “It is an inactivated vector-based vaccine, so it’s safe for children,” he says.

SINGLE DOSE

The developers at the Bharat Biotech are working towards a single-dose intranasal vaccine. Such a vaccine, if approved, would also help slash down logistics and cost.

The company has said that mice, hamsters and macaques were immunised from SARS-CoV-2 after they were given a single dose of ChAd-SARS-CoV-2-S. Viral clearance was observed in both lower and upper airways in all these animal models, the company said.

Thus, the company said, the intranasal immunisation of ChAd-SARS-CoV-2-S can create an immune response in the nose, which is the point of entry for the virus—thereby protecting against disease, infection and transmission.

Bharat Biotech received the approval to start the phase 1 clinical trials of the vaccine on January 19.

[Ack: The above article was written by Ms. Sneha Mordani for INDIA TODAY news website www.indiatoday.in and appeared on 4 March 2021.]

 

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Newly Appointed US Ambassador Arrives in Sierra Leone

New US Ambassador to Sierra Leone His Excellency, Ambassador David Reimer

By Amin Kef Sesay

In the wake of the departure of Maria Brewer after completion of her tenure as US Ambassador to Sierra Leone, on the 8th March 2021,  His Excellency, Ambassador David Reimer arrived to take up his post as Chief of Mission at the United States Embassy in Freetown.

Ambassador Reimer was greeted by Victor Abdulai Sheriff, Chief of Protocol of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

“I am delighted to arrive in Sierra Leone,” stated Ambassador Reimer, “and I thank the Government of Sierra Leone for the warm welcome to the country.  Our nations share a deep and abiding friendship developed over decades.  I look forward to working with the Government and people of Sierra Leone to strengthen our partnership based on shared interests and respect.”

Ambassador Reimer previously served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Mauritius and the Republic of Seychelles.  Prior to that, he held senior leadership positions as the Director of the Office of West African Affairs in the Bureau of African Affairs at the Department of State and was the Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Nouakchott, Mauritania.

Ambassador Reimer was accompanied by his wife, Simonetta Romagnolo, from Milan, Italy.  Ambassador and Mrs. Reimer look forward to exploring Freetown after completing a precautionary COVID-19 isolation period.

Frequent Accidents Along Freetown-Masiaka-Makeni Highway

By Amin Kef Sesay

Sierra Leone Roads Safety Authority and the Police Traffic division have a lot of work to do in terms of curbing what seems in the recent times like an increase in the number of motor vehicle accidents on our roads, especially the highway from Freetown to Masiaka and Makeni.

Investigation by The Calabash pointed to a number of well-known reasons for these motor accidents, many of which result in fatalities.

For example, just before the first tollgate from Masiaka, at a place called Masorie village, a delivery van slammed into a stationary ten-wheel truck, killing two people with the van damaged beyond repair.

The causes of these accidents include drivers giving their vehicles to apprentices that have not yet fully qualified and licensed, drivers using kush, marijuana, cheap local made alcohol, tiredness behind the wheels, and the most common cause, over-speeding with not too road worthy vehicles.

Road safety is so important that it has to be followed at all times to ensure the safety of the operators of vehicles, passengers, and pedestrians.

Road users, this medium interviewed, pointed accusing fingers at Traffic Wardens and Traffic Police Officers of paying very little attention to checking on vehicle road worthiness and more on their huge daily takings from the various “booking” points across the cities and the country that they mann.

Traffic experts recommend that to reduce the number of accidents on our roads, traffic rules and guidelines have to be set in place and strictly followed so that serious accidents and injuries can be averted.

The measures and methods taken to establish road safety include the use of various road safety products.

Well-designed and uniquely engineered road safety products ensure the constant safety of vehicles and pedestrians. These road safety products intimate people about parts of a road they should avoid and accident-prone zones as well as simply organize traffic and vehicles in an orderly manner.

Some important road safety products that are used worldwide are road barriers, road fences, and safety barricades.

It is very important to be aware that road traffic injuries remain an important public health problem. When road safety products are utilized correctly or efficiently, they can help save lives, prevent accidents and injuries, and keep a society functioning in the most optimal way.

Vehicle maintenance forms another very important axle of road safety. Smooth tires and faulty brakes often are causes of accidents.

Check headlights. Before you jump in your car and start your normal driving schedule, here are some things to check: Check oil and water in radiator, Check all the tire pressures, Drive your car using the brakes a few times and listen for any strange noises.

Africell Embarks on Countrywide Expansionist Drive

By Amin Kef Sesay

In a recent engagement with the Communications Manager of Africell Telecommunications Company, Eku Lake, he disclosed that currently the company is on an expansionist drive with the avowed intention of reaching hard to reach and undeserved communities. “We are targeting all the sixteen districts in the country as we want to take telecommunications to all the nook and cranny of this country,” he intimated underscoring how Africell is very passionate in ensuring that residents living in hard to reach areas in the provinces have access to telecommunications as well as have the opportunity to participate in the various promotions that the company comes up with from time to time.

He disclosed that presently twenty three new sites have been constructed and they are fully operational with all the necessary services including voice calls, promotions and data.

Eku Lake furthered that Africell has also upgraded some of its facilities and infrastructure in various communities within the Western Area with a consideration to avoid congestion of communication traffic.

“The company has injected millions of United States dollars into this expansionist drive,” he divulged revealing how their Technical and Commercial teams are presently working in the various districts across the country to enable them achieve their desired goal of taking the network to the people.

The Communications Manager assured all that by the close of 2021 Africell would have its presence felt in most parts of the country, a reason he gave why the vast majority of people must continue to patronize with company also stating how they have an affordable, cheapest network and fastest internet service.

Contacting Africell’s Estate Manager, John Bangura, in order to shed light on this latest development, he explained that the expansion process started since 2020, underscoring that, however, this is the massive expansion programme the company is currently implementing.

John continued to inform that they did between 50 and 60 sites across the country last year adding that Africell plans to complete another eighty new locations before the end of the year.

He continued to explain that the remaining sites will optimistically be ready before the rainy season starts although he lamented that the poor road network in some parts of the country  is a major constraint affecting their work.

“What the company has embarked on demonstrates our commitment to stay in the country for long and we are ready to provide the required services to the people,” he assured also pleading to all their esteemed subscribers to continue to exercise patience as they are poised to provide them with the services they want.

Female Military Personnel Playing Key Roles in Combating COVID-19

Lt. Moiwo inputs data on a daily basis related to the COVID-19 response in Sierra Leone

By Amin Kef Sesay

Female military personnel in the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, Lieutenant Matilda Mattu Moiwo has been in the forefront of coordinating the national effort to combat COVID-19. She holds a senior position in the National COVID-19 Emergency Response Centre, which is supported by the United Nations.

“COVID-19 is a dynamic and fluid situation,” says Lieutenant Matilda Mattu Moiwo. “You can’t predict everything that will occur in advance.”

Lt. Moiwo is a staff officer of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces. Her military training serves her well in the fight against COVID-19.

As the National Emergency Medical Services Referral Coordinator in the capital city of Freetown, Lt. Moiwo has to juggle national ambulance services, clinicians at hospitals, treatment centers and isolation units, and psychosocial assistance for patients and their families. She also disseminates test results and updates a national database on COVID-19.

Lt. Moiwo remains level-headed despite the skyrocketing demands for her team since the first case of COVID-19 was detected in the  country in March 2020.

She remembers one particular COVID-19 case, where a pregnant woman at full term needed a caesarean section. “For this woman, it was not just a matter of having a safe delivery. This was the very first delivery for a coronavirus patient in Sierra Leone. Health care workers at the isolation unit were worried. So was the patient.”

It took an hour or more of managing the elements needed for a safe delivery, but in the end, the hard work paid off and the woman delivered a baby girl.

Cases like these call for creative thinking, says Lt. Moiwo. “It is critical to get the right patients to the right places because we offer different treatment centers with different levels of care, depending on severity,” she says.

Building women’s leadership is part of Government efforts to promote gender equality in all areas of life. Such moves include a new law on sexual offenses, the launch of one-stop centres on sexual and gender-based violence, and the Government’s 2019 declaration of rape and sexual violence as a national emergency.

All these efforts are supported by the UN Country Team in Sierra Leone. And, says UN Resident Coordinator, Babatunde Ahonsi, supporting gender equality also means supporting the fight against COVID-19.

“COVID-19 is an all-hands-on-deck situation,” says Mr. Ahonsi. “If women are prevented from taking leadership positions, then we’re fighting the pandemic with one hand tied behind our back. When women are subjected to sexual violence, then there’s that much less energy and resources to advance public health.”

The equation works both ways. Just as gender equality supports public health, public health can support gender equality—if proper attention is paid to it.

That’s why the UN Country Team works on both gender equality and COVID-19—and makes sure that the two go hand in hand.

UNDP supported Sierra Leone’s COVID-19 response with infection prevention and control hygiene supplies.

For instance, Mr. Ahonsi led an effort to secure the donation of 100,000 face masks from China for the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation.

UNICEF reached out to 50 health influencers, including women leaders, who advocated for the proper use of masks, handwashing, and physical distancing.

The World Health Organization provided technical support to the Government and health facilities, which includes the National COVID-19 Emergency Response Centre, where Lt. Moiwo is a leader.

“When we make progress in gender equality, we make progress in every area of human endeavor,” says the UN Resident Coordinator.

Lt. Moiwo puts that notion into practice every day on the job.

Lt. Matilda Moiwo (centre) and her colleagues prepare to collect a patient suspected of catching COVID-19.
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