At first it started as a rumour but just recently it turned out to be a reality as authorities of National COVID-19 Emergency Response Centre (NaCOVERC) have announced a new partial lockdown of the capital Freetown and a night curfew throughout the country to counter the “exponential” increase of COVID cases in the country. These measures will come into effect this Monday, for two weeks initially, according to a statement by NaCOVERC.
Freetown has recorded more than half of the cases of contamination in the country. The authorities decided to restrict entry and exit from the Western Area and its surroundings.
All those who wish to travel outside Freetown for essential purposes are subject to a negative COVID test within 72 hours. An electronic pass will be introduced “to regulate essential movements”. It will also be accessible through a mobile application.
A curfew will be re-established throughout the country from 10:00 pm to 5:00 am .
Restaurants and bars will have to remain closed on weekends and the wearing of masks remains mandatory in public places. “Since December 2020, we observe an exponential increase in confirmed cases of COVID-19, largely due to the holiday season,” an official of NaCOVERC stated.
Sierra Leone has reported 3,081 cases of COVID-19 and 77 deaths since March 2020. Four out of five (80%) cases of infection were detected during routine testing or in travellers leaving the country. This is “a strong indication of active community transmission,” where the precise source of infection is undetermined, a sign of virus circulation and a complicating factor in the response” the official continued.
The country of 7.5 million people had been hard hit by the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, which killed nearly 4,000 people in the country between 2014 and 2016. It is still struggling to recover from a civil war that killed some 120,000 people nearly 20 years after the end of the conflict.
The country is in its 43rd week of the Coronavirus outbreak, with 3.051 cumulative confirmed positive cases. For now we are experiencing the second wave.
The nation took appropriate measures to keep COVID-19 in check during the first wave. “We must, ‘with renewed vigor and extra vigilance, pull together as one nation, to address this second wave,” the Interim National Coordinator of NaCOVERC, Brigadier Rtd Hassan Kellie Conteh, admonished Sierra Leoneans .
He said NaCOVERC is working assiduously to strengthen test regimes at land border points of entry.
This is an extremely difficult moment for our country, he stated, furthering how together they can curtail the spread of COVID-19 and maintain the successes we have made.
He called on all to continue remembering the souls that have succumbed to the disease as well as praying for our dedicated men and women in the fight against COVID-19.
On the 22nd January 2021 the Mayor of the Freetown City Council (FCC), Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, commissioned a project to upgrade two peripheral health units (PHUs) – Grey Bush becomes a Basic Emergency Maternal Obstetric Natal Care (BEMONC) and Ross Road, an existing BEMONC will be expanded.
The project will help relieve the pressure on major maternal and new-born hospitals at a time when COVID-19 continues to strain the full range of Freetown’s Health sector.
Upgrading the PHU to a BEMONC and improving the existing BEMONC will involve;Increasing beds for maternal/postnatal care, making separate rooms or designated spaces available for maternal and new-born health services, provisions for uninterrupted power and water supply, improving infrastructure in wards – sufficient lights, fittings, toilets, baths, laundry facilities.
During her visit to the PHUs , Mayor Aki-Sawyerr noted that PHUs are critical in providing health care services for some of the most vulnerable residents and emphasized that they must meet minimum operating standards to provide maternal care. She also encouraged healthcare staff to keep the surroundings of health facilities clean as good health cannot be achieved without adequate sanitation.
Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr handed over the sites to the contractors in the presence of health facility staff, Ward stakeholders and representatives of CRS. The health facilities are expected to be completed within 3 months and the project will contribute to FCC’s #TransformFreetown target to reduce maternal mortality in Freetown by 40%. Three additional PHUs will be rehabilitated and upgraded to BEMONCs this year.
This FCC Project is funded by the European Union as part of the #EUStandsWithSalone support to the Council’s COVID-19 response and it is being implemented by Catholic Relief Services.
Managing Director of UBA Sierra Leone, Usman Siaka
By Mary Kabay
On the 22nd January 2021, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and the United Bank of Africa (UBA) Sierra Leone convened a Press Conference geared towards sensitizing the youth of the country about the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF). The Press Briefing was held at the new Brookfields Hotel on King Harman Road in Freetown.
According to the Managing Director of UBA Sierra Leone, Usman Siaka, the objective of the TEF is to work in the direction of empowering women and men across the continent by catalysing economic growth, drive poverty eradication and ensuring job creation.
He furthered that TEF is of the conviction that the private sector’s role is critical for Africa’s development especially as it creates both social and economic wealth.
He said the Tony Elumelu Foundation 2021 TEF Entrepreneurship Program application for grants for this year commenced on the 1st of January 2021 and will close on the 31st March 20121.
“The Application portal for the submission of business proposals for the grant is available on TEF Connect digital platform (WWW.tefconnect.com),” he revealed.
The Managing Director said this year’s intervention prioritizes the economic recovery of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and young African entrepreneurs, following the COVID-19 disruption to economic activities.
He added that as an integral part of their Corporate Social Responsibility, UBA Sierra Leone remains committed to working with the Ministry of Youth Affairs, TEF Alumni and the media in promoting the call year- on- year, revealing how they have put together an array of activities that will drive public awareness.
Mohamed E. Kamara, one of the successful Alumnus of the Tony Elumelu Foundation and the Chief Executive Officer of Light Salone Innovation, made a presentation on his journey through the TEF and how he utilized the $5,000 grant that was given to him.
He disclosed how he has empowered about 100 youth across the country using his innovative skills.
Mohamed also disclosed that he conducted workshops right across the country during which he trained over 300 youth on Rural Electrification further revealing that he invented a local antenna that can give transmission to all TV sets.
The CEO of Light Salone Innovation said he is requesting for more funds to help his vision grow bigger and thanked the TEF for their financial and technical supports to help him actualize his dreams.
Phebean Swill –Randall, another Alumnus of the TEF, shared her experiences so far being part of the Foundation as a Content Producer underscoring that what helped her most was the qualified mentorship training she went through before receiving the grant.
She said her best experience is connecting with different beneficiaries in other parts of Africa with the willingness to help her in time.
Phebean also encouraged young people to be part of the Foundation because it is free and it will help them to be independent rather than falling for the trappings of politicians.
The Minister of Youth Affairs, Mohamed Orman Bangura in his statement said he wants to change the narrative of the youth and help them have better lives. He also encouraged young people to apply for the grants from the Tony Elumelu Foundation.
“This is a huge opportunity for the Sierra Leonean youth though most are shying away from it,” he enjoined highlighting that he wants the youth to compete with youths in other African countries among the 54 countries which include Ghana and Nigeria.
He disclosed that Government has given the National Youth Commission Service (NYSC) 5 billion Leones to engage the youth in eco- tourism, music, photography and many more.
The Youth Minister ended by disclosing that the UBA Bank Sierra Leone has many goodies for the youth in the country in terms of availing them the opportunity to save monies in bank accounts and actualize their benefits as they save their profits.
The Tony Elumelu Foundation was established in 2010 and is the leading champion of entrepreneurship in Africa through its $100m fund for the identification training, maintaining, and provision of $5,000.00 seed capital to 1,000 young African entrepreneurs annually over a 10year period that started from 2015.
The Sierra Leone Brewery Limited (SLBL), the nation’s premier manufacturer of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, which includes Star Lager Beer, Salone Beer, Mutzig Premium Lager beer, Guinness Foreign Extra Stout, Maltina and Trenk Dark Malt Energy drinks is the proud recipient of a prestigious award on the 22nd January 2021, which in actual fact is a Certificate of Appreciation, bestowed on the company by the Chief Executive Officer of the Consumer Protection Agency- Sierra Leone, Ibrahim Kabia, on behalf of his organization.
Presentation of the meritorious award took place at the Sierra Leone Brewery Limited (SLBL) Wellington Industrial Estate manufacturing plant and was graced by the company’s Corporate Affairs Manager, Albert Ojo Collier and his Deputy, Unisa Conteh and some officials of the Consumer Protection Agency because of the prevalence of COVID-19.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of the Consumer Protection Agency, Ibrahim Kabia, they decided to award the company particularly because of its excellent performance in the execution or rolling out of enhanced Quality and Corporate Affairs, particularly that which has to do with the company’s outstanding execution of its Corporate Social Responsibility.
“ We do acknowledge the developmental activities undertaken by the Brewery over the years to expand and improve the quality of its products to meet international standards, creating jobs for Sierra Leoneans and supporting communities as part of its strong Corporate Social Responsibility programme,” the Chief Executive Officer of the Consumer Protection Agency, Ibrahim Kabia revealed in his citation adding that their awards are designed to recognise the very best partners in the development of Sierra Leone as judged by Sierra Leoneans across the country.
He highlighted that as the umbrella entity that is representing and championing the interests, concerns and views of consumers right across the country they have been taking into consideration the plethora of commendations that dealers and consumers of the company’s products have been heaping on the Sierra Leone Brewery Limited for effective service delivery in addition to the company’s vibrant stance in not only producing standard drinks but in giving back to the community they are situated and even beyond evident in the provision of job opportunities, the construction of state of the art water wells, providing supports to schools, health facilities among a host of other assistances that the company had been rendering to communities.
Ibrahim Kabia furthered that the company has done a lot to improve the productive undertakings of sorghum farmers in the country as well as improving their welfare.
The Consumer Protection Chief Executive Officer stated that the methodology they used in arriving at the decision to award the Brewery was via conducting a perception survey by asking consumers to give their candid opinions about how they perceive the operation of the company. He said based on the feedback they received they thought it fit that the company should merit the award.
The Consumer Protection boss said residents within the Wellington Industrial Estate and even in other communities commended the company for the development interventions it has been making over the years saying such have improved their standards of living.
“Indeed, we are mindful of the positive comments that we have been receiving, especially from community residents , about the company’s pro-active stance in implementing its Corporate Social Responsibility and the affordability of the drinks it produces,” Kabia furthered.
He stated that they are working in sync with consumers and business people in order to identify and get rid of expired goods and counterfeit products on the market as well as recommend good products that are fit for consumption.
He said the Consumer Protection Agency-SL is apolitical and has a long history having been in existence under different political dispensations. He commended the Bio led Government for the strides they have made to transform the Consumer Protection Agency into a Commission which will come into force soon.
Receiving the award on the behalf of the Sierra Leone Brewery Limited, the Corporate Affairs Manager of the company, Albert Ojo Collier expressed profound thanks and appreciation to the Chief Executive Officer and other officials of the Consumer Protection Agency for taking their time off their busy schedules to bestow on the company such a prestigious Award.
He stated that the company prides itself on producing qualitative alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages which many have attested they truly enjoy consuming.
Mr. Collier assured them that the company will not rest on its oars in giving back to society and they will continue to support the host community and other communities with water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in order to complement the efforts of the Government in deepening overall national development.
“Bagging this meritorious award will not in any way dwindle our zest and commitment to continue to vail our esteemed customers qualitative beverages as well as improving lives,” Albert Collier intimated and assured that though their operations is somehow affected by the global pandemic but they are still working efficiently.
It could be recalled that the Sierra Leone Brewery Limited was among corporate institutions that were awarded this year by the National Social Security and Insurance Trust for Compliance to the Social Scheme during a prestigious award ceremony that took place on Friday 11th December 2020 at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Aberdeen in Freetown during the annual NASSIT Employer Banquet and Award Ceremony.
Many people have raised eyebrows and are asking critical questions as to why of late the Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Trade and Industry, decided to evict the Guoji Investment Company from its concessional area of operations at the former National Workshop situated at Cline Town in the East End of Freetown.
According to various accounts it was generally stated that the General Manager of Guoji Investment at Cline Town, Jack Wang, has expressed bitter disappointment over the quit notice issued by the Ministry of Trade and Industry on the grounds that the Governments of Sierra Leone gave them the place way back and they have worked so hard to develop it since 2003.
Again it was mentioned that in 2003, the company signed a contract agreement with the then Minister of Trade, Dr Kadie Sesay, for the development of the compound, which they did by providing land, buildings and preferential concessions.
“In 2011, we had another contract signed with the then Minister and that contract gave us 50 years lease agreement to work in that place. Presently we have 13 companies working in the compound with around 100 Sierra Leoneans working in these factories. So it was wrong for people to say since 2003 when we started operations we have done nothing,” it was said the General Manager of Guoji Investment lamented.
The impression that had been created was that Guoji Investment has not been treated fairly and such could water down the good bilateral relationship between Sierra Leone and China.
However, when this news medium went deeper by conducting a thorough investigation into the matter what came up clearly painted another different story.
It was learnt that the Guoji Investment and Development Company has defrauded the Government of Sierra Leone for over seventeen years since the reign of the late President, Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah when Dr. Kadie Sesay was Minister of Trade.
The Kabbah-led administration provided the leeway for the company to have a foothold in the country on the conviction that it will be producing Chinese goods that would be sold at affordable prices.
On that understanding the company was granted tax holidays and duty-free concession. Guoji Investment and Development Company was expected to pay 20% of its proceeds to the Government of Sierra Leone.
However, the company renege and never paid its 20% proceeds to the Government but was enjoying duty-free concessions at the Port even during the tenure of the Ernest Bai Koroma led Government.
What again was revealed was that the Management of the company had been subletting the compound to other business owners.
It turned out that rather than the Government of Sierra Leone benefitting from the facility it was the company that was doing so hugely at the expense of the country.
As a matter of fact Guoji succeeded in leasing most of its concessional areas to other Chinese companies without the Government of Sierra Leone knowing that.
It was understood that it was against the aforementioned that the Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Trade, decided to evict the Chinese company in order for another serious investment company to operate in the compound.
What some people are missing out, which is no fault of theirs, as the actual situation was not known is that the Chinese, through their Embassy in this country could not intervene in a matter in which transparency, accountability were absent and a contract agreement violated which is tantamount to a breach of contract.
In conclusion, what this medium finally understood was that the stance of the Ministry of Trade and Industry is justifiable especially at this crucial moment when the Government, headed by President Julius Maada Bio is desperately mobilizing revenue to implement its development agenda amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and operational site could be one place where revenue could be derived.
Currently, lecturers of various Universities in the country are on strike action bordering on their demand for salary increases in order to match up with the high cost of living.
During various media engagements, the President of the Academic Staff Association, Fourah Bay College (FBC), Dr. Williette James highlighted serious and critical welfare concerns that have been hampering the growth of the University for several decades.
It could also be recalled that on Tuesday January 19, 2021, heads and lecturers from the various higher and technical public education institutions across Sierra Leone converged at Fourah Bay College (FBC) on the invitation of the Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, amidst a strike action that has left the universities and technical institutions shut down.
Following a day-long dialogue, the protesting lecturers representatives agreed to summon a meeting of their general membership to discuss and consider the fruitful resolutions that emanated from the engagement.
As all these are going on, one of the most formidable Civil Society Organizations in the country, the Campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHRDI) has added its voice to the impasse between the Government and the Academic Staff Associations of the various protesting tertiary institutions.
CHRDI states that after several years of unresolved disputes between the University administration, Academic Staff Association (ASA) and the central Government, lectures have been brought to a standstill for several months now.
It furthered that with the perennially unsuitable learning conditions, University students in Sierra Leone are at risk of dropping out of University and missing out on their education.
Campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHRDI), it added, believes that Education is a vehicle for empowerment.
“Education can give marginalised adults and children the means to escape from poverty and participate meaningfully in their societies and is vital to empowering women, to safeguarding children from exploitation and hazardous labour, to the promotion of human rights and democracy and to the protection of the environment,” the organization maintained.
CHARDI concluded by urging the Government of Sierra Leone and the Academic Staff Association (ASA) to quickly respond to the concerns of the students averring that we have a generation to nurture and prepare for the future.
Without any iota of doubt there are various motor engine oil that are produced for the primary purpose of the good functioning of engines (vehicles, motor bikes, Kekeh, tractors etc ). However, it has been proven, over time, that the most effective and outstanding one, which is in high demand, is the Castrol GTX produced in various sizes.
Castrol GTX is particularly a well-known lubricant in Sierra Leone amongst motorists and commercial users. It has been attested that it is a well-recognized product amongst consumers since the Castrol brand is about passion, excitement and performance.
As a matter of fact, the motor engine oil is one that effectively clears particles that settle in the engines of vehicles, motor bike, Kekehs which have the tendency of clogging those engines and leading to break downs. Castrol GTX prevents such from occurring with the resultant effect of good functioning of these engines.
The National Petroleum-Sierra Leone Limited is the only company that has the exclusive right to market the motor engine oil and it has been doing so for quite a considerable period of time. As a company that has a broad customer base and at the same time attracting new customers, the Management of the company deemed it fit to avail its numerous esteemed customers the opportunity to combine business with pleasure in February this year.
It is against such a backdrop that the NP-SL Management decided that starting this February, the company will activate a loyalty promotion as one of its yearly activities and to celebrate the holidays by offering its esteemed customers the chance to win different prizes.
As far as the Management of NP-SL Ltd is concerned, brand awareness and product visibility are key drivers in any marketing institution and therefore as part of its 2020 marketing activity plan, activation of those drivers is paramount.
Again, it is in that regard that high street stores and NP forecourts will be sale points to create brand awareness and visibility.
From the starting of the month, every time a customer buys a 5L Castrol GTX, he or she, will have a chance to dip and draw from a container filled with hidden prizes in the form of a folded slip.
Indeed, it must be reiterated that each time customers buy 5L Castrol engine oil they will dip their hands in a container and then draw folded slips. The customers will open the slips and reveal prizes or a ‘sorry buy more GTX’ on the slip.
The categories of the draw are as follows: GTX 25W50 = 1 dip & draw, GTX 20W50 = 2 dips & draw, GTX DIESEL = 2 dips & draw.
After revealing the prizes the customers will leave their details and shall be contacted by the Lubricants Sales Supervisor of NP-SL Ltd.
The Lubricants Sales Supervisor will in turn notify the winners and they will pick up their prizes at the office.
Customers who do not win prizes will be compensated with Castrol GTX bumper stickers or keyrings. This is to keep the customers loyal and identify themselves with the premium brand.
The compensation is as follows: GTX 25W50 = 1 sticker, GTX 20W50 = 1 sticker & 1 keyring, GTX DIESEL = 2 stickers & 1 keyring.
It must be known that the promotion and offers will run for a three-week period in this year, 2021.
The promotional items are: Led Light, Normal cap, Funnels, Lip balm, Keyring, Sticker, Desk Clock, Flask, File and Mug.
It must be noted that the National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd) is an indigenous company that has impressively translated its Mission into realities on the ground. Commendably, though it is been challenged by various constraints, yet the company is weathering the storm along the way, navigating through uncharted terrain and is steadily sailing through.
NP-SL Ltd’s Mission borders on maintaining its dominant leadership position in the local market and strive to operate at sub-regional level by assuring the supply of petroleum products in an environmentally friendly manner while offering superior value for customers, employees and other stakeholders based on a proud corporate culture with emphasis on safety consciousness, profit optimization, corporate expansion thereby contributing to national development.
When this is juxtaposed with the company’s culture which is to develop a disciplined family with an institutional culture working towards building a great company and look at how the company stands tall within the petroleum marketing landscape in this country, then we will really appreciate the truism that to succeed in whatever we do in life there must be a good team spirit and a strong willpower.
Indisputably, with a strong willpower to become a giant company not only in this country but also within the West Africa sub-region dating back over fifty years ago indeed requires ingenuity, selflessness and dedication.
As far as the Mission Statement of NP-SL Ltd is concerned it has to do with: “maintaining their dominant leadership position in the local market and strive to operate at sub-regional level.” Save only for spinners, but for the vast majority they will attest with all amount of certainty that the petroleum marketing company, which is wholly owned by Sierra Leoneans, has indeed become the towering petroleum marketing company in this country.
It could be recalled that there had been different petroleum companies that have operated here in this country with others still operating but they have either folded up or not so competitive. NP-SL is second to none in this country when it comes to the importation and marketing of different petroleum products.
After establishing a strong foothold on the business landscape of this country, the Shareholders of the company then decided to extend by opening branches in neighbouring Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and The Gambia. In all these countries, the company states of the art Filling Stations are located in different parts offering qualitative service delivery to their esteemed customers. This is a true manifestation of the dogged and selfless efforts on the part of the owners of the company to do what they have actually stated that they will do.
In terms of offering superior value for customers, employees and other stakeholders the company has been doing so with utmost efficiency. It is against such a backdrop that the company always outsources its fuels from the world’s leading oil refineries where the business entity’s fuels go through stringent tests and quality control in major internationally approved European laboratories.
The main products the company markets are: Petrol also known as Octane which has earned the reputation of extending the life of motor vehicles whilst at the same time protecting them from extensive damages. There is also Diesel of high quality which is recommended for all kinds of diesels engines.
NP also markets Fuel Oil of various kinds and they are of the highest standard which is suitable for all engines needing fuel oil. Besides, the company sells a stock of a wide range of lubricants and greases of BP, Castrol and AGIP brands. Today, Castrol is the widely used lubricant in the country and many have attested that it is indeed very good for effective performance of vehicles, various industrial machines as well as generators. The company as well provides special products for vehicles such as coolants, dashboard cleaners etc.
.From all that have been said, it could be apparently seen that NP-SL Ltd is a “talk and do” company. From a Mission Statement that dates back decades ago to this material period of time and seeing the preciseness of the rolling out of everything contained in it then it will be said, with every justification, that the company is a very progressive one.
Pula Raises $6mn in Series A to help derisk Farmers across Africa and Asia
Leading Insuretch for Africa’s smallholder farmers closes latest round from TLcom Capital and Women’s World Banking
Nairobi, Kenya. 25th January 2021. Pula, an African InsureTech service provider that specialises in digital and agricultural insurance to derisk millions of smallholder farmers across Africa, has closed a $6mn Series A fundraise. The Series A fund was led by TLcom Capital, with the participation of Women’s World Banking. The new investment will be used to scale up operations in the company’s existing 13 markets across Africa. Currently, Pula has impacted over 4.3mn farmers on the continent and the new funding will also help propel its expansion into Asia to power resilience and profitability for Asian smallholder farmers.
Launched in 2015 by Rose Goslinga and Thomas Njeru, Pula designs and delivers innovative agricultural insurance and digital products to help smallholder farmers endure climate risks, improve their farming practices and bolster their incomes over time. For smallholder farmers in emerging markets, the traditional method of calculating insurance through farm visits is often unaffordable for farmers, meaning these farmers are often neglected from financial protection against climate risks.
Through its Area Yield Index Insurance product, Pula leverages machine learning, crop cuts experiments and data points relating to weather patterns and farmer losses to build products which caters for a variety of risks including drought, excessive rainfall, pests and diseases. The company’s key clientele include the likes of the World Food Programme, Central Bank of Nigeria, Zambian Government & the Kenyan Government. Pula has also launched an NDVI Livestock insurance as an offering for livestock farmers.
Speaking on the new fundraise, Co-Founder and Co-CEO at Pula, Rose Goslinga, says “When Thomas and I launched Pula in 2015, we had one goal in mind – to build and deliver scalable insurance solutions for Africa’s 700mn smallholder farmers and with our latest funding, now is the time to break into new ground. In our five years since launching, we’ve built strong traction for our products but the fact remains that across Africa and other emerging markets, there are still millions of smallholder farmers with risks to their livelihoods that have not been covered.”
“In the midst of a global pandemic, farmers need assurances now more than ever and with this in mind, it’s time to scale up. Having TLcom Capital and Women’s World Banking along on the journey with us, opens up many more opportunities as we build across the continent and beyond.”
Through its partnerships with banks, governments and agricultural input companies, Pula is at the center of an ecosystem which provides insurance to smallholder farmers and has amassed 50 insurance partners, as well as six reinsurance partners. In December 2020, the startup was named as the “InsurTech of the Year” at the African Insurance Awards 2020 held in Lagos, Nigeria. As part of the new fundraise, TLcom’s Senior Partner Omobola Johnson will join Pula’s Board.
Maurizio Caio, Managing Partner and Founder at TLcom Capital, states “In Pula, we found a company addressing a hugely underserved market in one of Africa’s key drivers of growth and with this, an opportunity for major economic upside. The potential for the insurance market for smallholder farmers in Africa is huge and under the leadership of Rose and Thomas, Pula has rapidly established a strong presence throughout the continent and has a number of high-profile clients on their books. We are confident of Pula’s potential for growth in spite of the pandemic and look forward to partnering with them as they execute the next phase of their journey.”
Christina Juhasz, CIO at Women’s World Banking, also states “Given the legions of women engaged in small-hold farming and securing the food supply for communities around the globe, Women’s World Banking is delighted to partner with Pula Advisors in providing them financial safety nets against the risks of pests, disease and climate change”.
In 2018, Pula announced the close of its $1mn seed round from Rocher Participations with support from Accion Venture Lab, Omidyar Network and several angel investors. Previous funders have included the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Mulago Foundation and Mercy Corps Social Ventures and the company presence in Africa currently extends to Senegal, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique.
– ENDS-
For additional information on Pula, contact Cedrick Todwell of Pula |cedrick@pula.io
About Pula
Pula is an agricultural Insurance and technology service provider that designs and delivers agriculture insurance and digital products that help smallholder farmers edure climate risks,improve their farming practices and bolster their incomes over time. Currently Pula has insured 4.3 Million smallholder farmers across 13 countries.Pula has won numerous awards including the Singapore Fintech Award, Women’s world banking award,African Insurance award and Credit Suisse Innovation Award
Founded in 1999, TLcom has $200mn of VC assets under management across Africa, Europe and Israel and manages the $71mn TIDE Africa Fund, dedicated to technology and innovation for Sub-Saharan Africa at all stages of venture capital. The TLcom portfolio includes Twiga Foods, Andela, uLesson, and Kobo360 among others, and it has completed successful Africa VC exits with Upstream acquired by Actis and Movirtu acquired by BlackBerry. The TIDE Africa Fund delivers capital as part of a larger strategic, operational and financial support to entrepreneurs.
About Women’s World Banking
Founded in 1979, Women’s World Banking is the global leader in women’s financial inclusion with the mission to expand the economic assets, participation, and power of low-income women and their households through access to financial services, knowledge, and markets. Women’s World Banking’s managed funds invest in innovative, emerging market financial service providers and assist them to expand their outreach to low-income women clients with targeted, scalable solutions and to increase their gender diversity in staff and management teams. Through such women-focused strategies, the funds seek to provide higher returns on investment while promoting women’s economic empowerment.
For far too long Sierra Leone’s health sector has been in an underdeveloped state as in the past serious efforts were not made by successive Governments to beef it up. Some improvement was made during the tenure of the erstwhile Government headed by former President Ernest Bai Koroma when the Free Health Care Initiative was introduced for Under-Five Children, Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers.
However, the country’s health sector remained largely under resourced and plagued by serious institutional corruption by officials who were expected to enhance its vibrant functionality.
The statistics of Sierra Leoneans dying from preventable diseases and the high infant as well as maternal mortality rates were very grim.
Simply because the country’s health sector was not standardized, Sierra Leoneans who were inflicted by certain diseases have the only option to be flown out to Ghana and India for specialized medical treatments. Those who could afford the high expenses to be flown out were and are still in the minority whereas the majority either died untimely or survived by the grace of God.
One identifiable factor that could have been responsible for the unfortunate situation was that it was strongly believed that it is only Government that should provide the resources to beef up the sector. Considering the numerous tasks that Government has in hand in terms of fulfilling its manifesto promises has indeed made it difficult for much needed resources to be injected into the health sector.
To overcome this perennial problem the solution only lies in the formation of a public-private venture to invest in the health sector.
It is against this backdrop that it was welcome news that the EASI Trading Company came on board to partner with the current Government headed by President Julius Maada Bio to construct a 150-bed ultra-modern teaching hospital at Kerry Town in the Western Area Rural District.
Through the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, the Government of Sierra Leone on Friday, 12th June 2020 signed an agreement with EASI Construction and Trading Limited for the construction of a 150-bed ultra-modern teaching hospital at Kerry Town in the Western Area Rural District.
The agreement was signed by the result oriented Mr Hashim Hashim, a representative of EASI Construction and Trading Limited and Dr Alpha T. Wurie, Minister of Health and Sanitation.
Very instrumental in the actualization of the agreement was Mr Hashim Hashim, who is fondly called Pa Hashim, the first Sierra Leonean to be appointed as Sierra Leone’s Consul in Lebanon and described as the most suited person to handle such a high profile diplomatic position based on his experience, credibility and personality.
Indisputably, Pa Hashim played a key role recently in returning stranded Sierra Leoneans from Lebanon.
He also played a significant role in facilitating the arrival of a Lebanese medical team to work alongside Sierra Leonean doctors to fight the spread of the coronavirus in the country.
Commendably, through the efforts and effective lobbying of Pa Hashim, the EASI Construction and Trading Limited yielded to the clarion call of President Bio to expand health facilities and increase the country’s health infrastructure.
During a brief interview with Pa Hashim, he intimated that the Lebanese firm, EASI, is leading the construction work of what will be the largest modern hospital in Sierra Leone.
He furthered that President Bio laid the foundation stone for the hospital that is being built under the leadership of a Lebanese businessman, Elias Abu Shaheen through his contracting company.
“Abu Shaheen’s company is behind multiple major constructions in Lebanon, including the Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium and the University of Balamand as well as others abroad, such as in Libya and Iraq,” he disclosed.
He stated that, when the 150 bedroom would have been completed and commissioned, the people of Sierra Leone will no longer need to go abroad for hospitalization. Rather, the people of neighbouring countries will be able to come to Sierra Leone.
The Sierra Leone Consul in Lebanon also informed The Calabash that the Abu Shaheen’s firm has signed another contract with the Sierra Leonean Government to build 6,000 modern housing units outside Freetown disclosing that the project will be launched soon.
With all these good efforts made by the President and Pa Hashim, it was indeed welcoming when on the 22nd January 2021, at Kerry Town, President Bio launched a Health Village and turned the sod for the construction of the 150 bed ultramodern hospital that would occupy a land space of 300 acres.
The 150 bed hospital, when completed, will house an outpatient department, private clinics, laboratories, teaching facility, maternity wards, paediatric wards, surgical wards and provide services for Endoscopy, Chemotherapy, Dialysis, IVF, etc.
Estimated to cost around $52.5 million USD the hospital will also create over 600 jobs in the health sector.
The hospital will also provide a comprehensive diagnostic, radiotherapy and cancer treatment center. 50 rooms will be constructed for nurses, 40 rooms for medical doctors and about 36 rooms for families who might want to stay in with their sick ones. A helipad landing will be part of the features at the hospital.
President Bio said: “it is hoped that this facility will offer improved quality of care and those services will be affordably priced”.
He also underscored that they were following through on the New Direction Manifesto promise and the Medium-Term National Development Plan to increase affordable access to quality healthcare service delivery.
He added that that goal also aligned with the Government’s human capital development priorities – access to quality healthcare, and the Sustainable Development Goal 3 on delivering good health and well-being to Sierra Leoneans.
The President furthered that his Government had been able to continue to deliver increased care for other diseases even through the COVID-19 pandemic because of their well-considered and scalable investments in the healthcare system over the last two years.
He recalled that for healthcare infrastructure, they had commissioned 380 beds in four new hospitals in Kailahun, Hangha, Rokupa, and at the King Harman Road, adding that they had also commenced the construction of 360 beds in 3 facilities in Jojoima in the Kailahun district, Lower Banta and Upper Banta Chiefdoms in Moyamba district, and 100 additional beds at the 34 Military Hospital in Freetown.
“We have recruited and trained nearly 6,000 additional healthcare workers, improved their conditions of service, and provided diagnostic laboratories in all district hospitals. The 2019 Demographic Health Survey (DHS) shows better health outcomes for Sierra Leoneans with a 39% reduction in maternal mortality and a 19% reduction in infant mortality. We may not be where we want to be, but we are determined to continue to give our best,” he assured.
Team Lead, Health and Education UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, Penny Walker-Robertson, commended the Government’s leadership for making this a priority.
“We believe we will see much more progress in the coming years. The opening of this health village is an opportunity to reflect some reforms and how this centre can contribute to the overall ambition for universal health coverage. We stand ready to partner with you,” she assured.
Minister of Health and Sanitation, Prof. Alpha Tejan Wurie, said what people saw with the health village was the tip of the iceberg within the health sector, adding that the President had gone to tell the people about the provision of tertiary service.
“You have been informed about the 150-bed hospital that will have 40 flats for doctors, 50 rooms for some of the nurses at work and will also have a hostel facility for those that accompany the sick.
“So, let us look at the services that we are going to get from this. Today, we send people out for paediatric service but more importantly for oncology service and also for cardiovascular service. We do hope that this facility will now have a reversal, in the sense that rather than Sierra Leoneans go out to access services, people will come into this country to access services,” he said.
From the foregoing, it is seen that through Public-Private Partnership certain national development aspirations could be achieved. The country needs the likes of Pa Hashim to back up the lobbying and luring of investors into the country in order to implement development projects as Government alone cannot do it all.
Dr. Lauretta Will Sillah
CEO
People’s Foundation for Humanity Development
International Coordinator
Women In Ministry International (WIMI)
By Dr. Lauretta Will Sillah
As much as Sierra Leone as a whole is limited as far as basic socioeconomic opportunities, rights, services and amenities, there are, however, communities that are so deprived that it is very pathetic. Exclusion of such under-served communities cannot certainly contribute to our human capital development in the transformation of our nation, as our president and other like-minded visionaries are envisioning. Our local parlance refers to the poorest among the poor as “popolipo.” These are the communities I would like to shed light on in this piece.
Over the Christmas and New Year holidays, I visited a village called Moseilolo, in the Moyamba District, which is about 26 miles from the District headquarters of Moyamba. I was really heartbroken to discover that Moseilolo and other 9 surrounding villages did not even have a functioning local school. The kids have to relocate to another far distant village or walk for miles and miles to attend school. I was really sorry mostly for the little girls whose chances were even narrower as far as our President’s Agenda of narrowing gender-gaps and providing opportunity for underserved communities. How do you empower such girls to contribute their fair share to the development of this nation?
So many speeches from our politicians and other high-level educational stakeholders have hammered the topic on “National Development Plan” especially in addressing the Sustainable Development Goals 4 and 5, and other international human capital development agenda. I am a strong advocate of the SDG 4 and 5 because of the transformation of my own life hailing from one of the poorest villages and from one of the poorest nations on earth. So indeed Education has been the most potent enabler in so many lives we can testify about and should be able to pass on to the next generation in these vulnerable communities.
My biggest desire now is for every Sierra Leonean, including the most remote villagers to be included in this national development so that the kids can grow up to be all that they’re destined to be, if we’re going to be sustainable.We have enough role models in all disciplines both at home and abroad, including the academia, sciences, technology, Medical Doctors and host of other professions that can lend a hand in volunteering to help our remote villages. We don’t have to wait for the government to do everything. We can utilize our Non-Government Organizations, religious institutions, places of work, academic institutions and other charity organization to lend a helping hand. Every little bit counts. For kids who are now above school-aged, vocational skills and entrepreneurship trainings are one of the best ways to not leave any child behind.
Dr. Lauretta Will Sillah visits Moseilolo Village with a Make-shift Learning Environment, Dec 24, 2020.
Although it may seem like a herculean task, however, we can deal with one community at a time. It really doesn’t take all that much to provide learning environment, early-learner teachers, teaching and learning materials, staple meal, if we can just look at this from a humanitarian perspective instead of a political stand-point. Everybody can contribute one way or the other. Post-war, my colleagues at American InterContinental University in Atlanta and my family and friends contributed to the academic arena by collecting and disseminating academic materials and supplies for over a decade amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars worth and distributed them to all the major universities including Fourah Bay College, Njala University, IPAM, IAMTECH, Centennial Secondary School, Mattru Jong and numerous elementary and tertiary institutions.
We can still continue to contribute in diverse ways, especially now that the world is going digital and with virtual learning environments, due to drastic effects of the pandemic. Our villages could certainly utilize all those tangible school materials including library books and other excess school and other pertinent supplies just wasting in warehouses all across advanced nations including the US and UK. This whole year, 2021, we at People’s Foundation for Humanity Development, Women In Ministry International, PointLink LLC and other charities will be reaching out on local, international and social media, to address some of these vulnerabilities. We pray that hearts will be touched to reach out to address and holistically meet the needs of our fellow human beings. In supporting the government’s efforts, inclusion of under-served communities, at the end of the day would be able to be included and thereby contribute to the human capital development in the transformation of our great nation of Mama SaLone.
Dr. Sillah and students disseminated Donated textbooks for academic institutions for over a decade post-war.
