By Amin Kef Sesay
In a bid to complement Government’s efforts to provide and improve WASH facilities in the country, with the objective to scale up preventive measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 and to strengthen sanitation and health systems at the community level, the Sierra Leone Brewery Limited (SLBL) with support from the HEINEKEN Africa Foundation has on Wednesday 26th August, 2020 signed a six-month WASH Response Project with World Vision-Sierra Leone worth over 2.2 Billion Leones.
The event took place at World Vision Head office on Wilkinson Road, in Freetown and was chaired by Head of Human Resource, Sierra Leone Brewery Limited, Zorah Anthony. In her opening remarks she stated that Sierra Leone is one of the eight countries targeted to benefit from the HEINEKEN Africa Foundation assistance further expressing the belief that such will help World Vision Sierra Leone to focus on informal settlements in Freetown that are highly vulnerable to COVID-19 outbreak.
She added that the partnership with Water Aid and World Vision is the first phase of the HEINEKEN Africa Foundation’s commitment to support the fight against COVID-19 with a focus on WASH activities.
On his part, the Corporate Affairs Manager of Sierra Leone Brewery Limited, Albert Ojo Collier in his statement revealed that it is indeed a great honour and privilege to officially unveil and sign the WASH Response Project contract which, he said, is a partnership involving the HEINEKEN Africa Foundation (HAF), Sierra Leone Brewery Limited (SLBL) and World Vision International to support communities in Sierra Leone to scale up the fight against COVID-19.
He said SLBL and HAF have again taken up the challenge to continue to support the people of Sierra Leone and they are very proud to do so as exemplary corporate citizen (SLBL) that is contributing to the wellbeing of Sierra Leoneans by supporting private sector initiatives of this nature.
Albert Ojo Collier further disclosed that the project is funded by HAF to help reduce the spread and impact of COVID-19 in Sierra Leone, adding that it is a six-month WASH response project worth €210,625 (over 2.2 Billion Leones at the current exchange rate).
“In implementing the project, World Vision will focus on the provision of pure water supply to communities in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including mechanized solar-powered boreholes and water trucking services where needed. Freestanding hand-washing stations will be fabricated or procured (such as Veronica buckets, with a tap) and placed at strategic public places and community health centres. Soap and disinfectants will be provided at the hand- washing units in public places, informational and educational materials utilized in sensitizing people living in slums and their community health centers to outline the sanitation and hygiene practices to be carried out by both patients and healthcare workers will be disseminated,” he also revealed.
He said that for effective prevention and mitigation, World Vision will work with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation to develop, print, and distribute social behavior-change communication materials on COVID-19 and strengthen WASH promotion through community health workers at the household level, also emphasizing key COVID-19 prevention messages with special focus on actions to improve hygiene practices.
Revealing the summary of the project, he said, the partnership has agreed on key performance indicators which are that 16,000 people will be reached to access clean water, 12 water system tap stands with 24 taps will be constructed, 6,000 people will be reached with preventative WASH kits, 300,000 people in informal settlements will directly benefit from educational materials and with 200,000 people who work in the markets as secondary beneficiaries. He described the intervention as timely and supportive to the people of Sierra Leone at this moment when the country is battling with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Albert Ojo Collier recalled that prior to this partnership, SLBL donated hand washing and other COVID-19 prevention materials and Maltina Beverage drinks to the Emergency COVID-19 Operations Office then, Members of Parliament in Constituency 114 and 115, City Council Ward Councilors in Wards 404, 405 and 406 in the Wellington, Calaba Town Axis and the Medical and Dental Association costing over 150 Million Leones.
He stated that HAF, in the past, has been providing support to the Sierra Leone Brewery Limited since 2010 by identifying deserving proposals forwarded by various communities, where the Sierra Leone Brewery Limited is operating, on an annual basis to be supported or funded.
Ojo Collier said, however due to the prevalence of the COVID-19 pandemic which has prevented them from continuing to do so now they therefore decided to sign this partnership with an international NGO, as deemed necessary, to focus on the pandemic at hand.
On his part, National Director of World Vision-Sierra Leone, James Chifwelu, expressed appreciation to SLBL and HAF for the partnership which he described as not only significant but very timely at the moment.
He said World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization which started it operations in the country in 1996 and since then they have been conducting relief, development and advocacy activities in their work targeting children, families, and communities in nearly 100 countries to help them reach their full potentials by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.
He said since the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country they have been partnering with various organizations as part of their support in curtailing the spread of COVID-19 in the country, adding that World Vision has been working closely with community residents where they operate stating that with this project that has been signed such will definitely help them to reach more communities in order to save the lives of those in dire need of support in the country.
He assured them that as an organization they are committed to ensure that the project positively impact its targeted beneficiaries in the country.
Deputy Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, who also doubles as Spokesperson for NACOVERC, Solomon Jamiru Esq, expressed gratitude to SLBL ,HAF and World Vision for partnering together to implement such a project.
He said by estimation the nature of the project will make it possible for timely intervention in curtailing the spread of COVID-19 and also in enumerating the impact of COVID-19 in the country.
Solomon Jamiru added that the private sector has a critical role to play towards the development of any nation and that with this support coming from the private sector such symbolizes their commitment in complementing the efforts of Government.
Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Rev. Abraham James Sesay-Jones, who was also in attendance showered praises to both organizations for the timely intervention to support the fight against COVID-19 in the country.
He pleaded to World Vision to target markets people disclosing that they are the major beneficiaries of the project, adding that the markets are the most crowded places and those going there are at risk of contracting the virus.
Giving the vote of thanks, the Communications Manager of World Vision, Edward Renner, expressed appreciation to both organizations for the partnership furthering that he is of the strong conviction that the project will impact the lives of Sierra Leoneans.
He said World Vision has been undertaking life- saving relief and
humanitarian assistance interventions, adding that World Vision- Sierra Leone WASH Program spends an average of about $1.5 million yearly, working with 11 dedicated WASH staff. He welcomed the much-needed support from the HEINEKEN Africa Foundation to reinforce the WASH Program in the country.
