SLAEHP Unanimously Ratifies and Adopts a New Constitution

By Foday Moriba Conteh

During a well-attended meeting held on Thursday 2^nd September, 2021 at the Directorate of Environmental Health and Sanitation Conference Hall at Cline Town in Freetown, members of the Sierra Leone Association of Environmental Health Professionals (SLAEHP), an organization which consists of trained and qualified personnel from recognized Government institutions in the country, have unanimously ratified and adopted the Association’s new constitution which will act as the supreme law of the Association.

In his opening remarks as Chairman, Eric Moosa, described the ceremony as a landmark event geared towards the development of the association, adding that the adoption of the constitution will serve as the guiding document of the Association in order for it to move in the right direction.

He said that prior to the adoption the Association formed a Committee of Experts who drafted the constitution which was adopted by majority of the membership of the association.

Speaking during the adoption, the Interim President of the Sierra Leone Association of Environmental Health Professionals (SLAEHP), Mohamed S. Koroma, said that the Association was borne out of the desire to provide services that will create and maintain an ecologically balanced condition that promotes health and, thus prevent the spread of diseases through an effective implementation of the Environmental Health and Sanitation interventions in the country and beyond.

Mohamed S. Koroma maintained that the Association is a sole reflector of the attribute of the environmental Health Professionals code of ethics and practices as enshrined in the said 1960 Act, adding that it is against such a backdrop that the members of the Association deemed it fit to ratify and adopt the Association’s constitution as a guiding document.

He revealed that the aim of the association is to foster the welfare of brotherhood among members, to protect and promote opportunities of members of the association.

Speaking on the objectives of the association the interim President pointed out that the association was formed in order to establish linkages with other health related organizations both local and international, stating that the association will also advocate to Government and other institutions to be actively involved in the promotion of safe and healthy environment throughout the country.

He ended by calling on all environmental health officers to join the association which he said will definitely work in the interest of environmental health officers in the country.

On his part, the Lead/Deputy Team Lead of the Directorate of Environmental Health and Sanitation, Alhaji Dr. Momodu Sesay, expressed appreciation to the Sierra Leone Association of Environmental Health Professionals (SLAEHP) for the laudable initiative which he described as very important towards the development of the environmental health profession in the country

He encouraged members of the Sierra Leone Association of Environmental Health Professionals to embrace unity among themselves and members of the profession.

Alhaji Dr. Momodu Sesay ended by pledging his support towards the development of the association.

Giving the vote of thanks the interim Vice President of the Sierra Leone Association of Environmental Health Professionals, Martha Mani expressed appreciation to members of the association for witnessing what she termed as a remarkable and momentous ceremony.

She urged them to see the association as their own and called on them to support the aims and objectives of the association not only form themselves but the country as a whole.

Concluding the meeting was the presentation of the SLAEHP c Constitution by John S. Bangura which was followed by its adoption  by majority of the members.