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, No Child Left Behind Initiative, in collaboration with Jennifer Thompson Foundation, has on Monday 12th October, 2020 embarked on a coronavirus sensitization drive by highlighting the causes and prevention of the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) and distribution of 3,000 face masks to pupils of Our Lady Fatima Primary School, St. Joseph Primary School, and the Regional Government Hospital, Makama in Makeni.
In her address, Vice President of No Child Left Behind Initiative, Deborah Forbie, disclosed that theirs is an organization that has been working for the development and welfare of children in the country. She stated how its members thought it fit to undertake the aforementioned donation of these face masks to pupils of Makeni in order to complement the efforts of Government in the fight against COVID-19 by breaking the chain of transmission in the country.
She said they decided to donate the face masks in order to support the children with the strong belief that the donated face masks will help them greatly in protecting themselves from contacting the virus.
She noted that handing washing, social distancing and the use of facial masks are very important towards curtailing the spread of the virus in the country.
In that regard she urged them to make good use of the facemasks further admonishing them to adhere to all the precautionary measures that the Government and its partners have put in place also underscoring that it is only when strict adherence is maintained that we could stay safe and together combat COVID-19 in the country.
She expressed gratitude to Mrs. Jennifer Adeshola Thompson, who happens to be the forerunner of the organization saying she has been working enormously in order to support less privileged children across the country.
Team Lead, No child Left Behind Initiative-Makeni, Mamie K. Kamara also took the opportunity to educate the children on the causes and prevention of COVID-19.
She encouraged them to strictly practice the process of hand washing, social distance and regular use of face masks as such will help to keep them alive and protect them from contracting the coronavirus.
Mamie also encouraged them to use the facemasks in order to prevent themselves and their families from contracting COVID-19 and also take heed of all the preventive measures which they have demonstrated to them in order to curtail the spared of COVID-19.
Head Teacher, Our Lady Fatima Primary School Makeni, Mrs Rita F. Conteh expressed appreciation to members of the No Child Left Behind Initiative for taking the coronavirus awareness campaign to their children saying it is timely. She noted that as a school they have been educating their pupils on COVID-19 prevention in order to keep them safe.
Head Teacher, St. Joseph Cluny Primary School Makeni, Edna Marie Kamara also showered praises on the organization and the Jennifer Thompson Foundation for the gesture which she described as not only important but a very timely intervention towards the fight against COVID-19 in the country.
She admonished the pupils to observe the necessary personal hygiene messages that have been explained to them and to adhere to the directives of the Government. She also appealed to them to follow the process of hand washing demonstrated to them as such will help to keep them alive and protect them from contracting the coronavirus.
Noretta Kamara, a pupil of St. Joseph Primary School, expressed delight for the inspirational and encouraging messages about the consequences of contracting the coronavirus and the importance of the use of face masks and frequent hand washing further urging her friends to make good use of the messages.
