Sierra Leone

The key role played by the media in shaping public perception on COVID-19 in Sierra Leone

admin — Fri, 13 Nov 2020 17:40:02 +0000

The key role played by the media in shaping public perception on COVID-19 in Sierra Leone admin Fri, 11/13/2020 - 17:40

Friday, November 13, 2020

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Local – Sierra Leone Concord Times

Original Article

The key role played by the media in shaping public perception on COVID-19 in Si…

November 13, 2020

By Ibrahim Tarawallie

Sierra Leone has been grappling with various health emergencies for the past six years. With one of the poorest health infrastructures in Africa, the country was at first devastated by the outbreak of the dreaded Ebola Virus in 2014, which killed 3,956 people. Like Ebola, the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has affected all facets of life in the country. Comparatively though, the infection rate of COVID-19 in the country is relatively low: 2,383 confirmed cases and 74 deaths as at Sunday November 8, 2020, compared to 14,124 confirmed cases and 3,956 deaths for Ebola. One of the contributors to the low infection rate of the Coronavirus is the significant role played by the media in creating awareness about the virus among the population.

Sierra Leone Association of Journalists

To enhance government’s capability in terms of effecting behavioral change leading to the general acceptability of the existence of COVID-19, the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) strongly collaborated with the government in the fight against the pandemic.

Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, President of SLAJ, narrated the role played by his association in the fight against the pandemic.

“Before we even had the index case, and when news broke out of the pandemic spreading widely in countries, we were proactive enough to join the government in preparing the minds of the people that the virus was real and it was coming to Sierra Leone, and that it was just a matter of time,” he said.

He said a SLAJ Coronavirus Response Committee was established with a mandate to liaise with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation for expert information on the virus so that journalists could have knowledge about the virus as well as understand the preventive measures.

SLAJ also established a national simulcast program on radio and TV, which was a clearing house for all information about the virus to dispel misinformation, fake news and conspiracy theories about COVID-19.

According to Nasralla, the program was used as a platform to talk directly to the people and convince them about the existence of the virus, as well as proffering prevention mechanisms and measures to combat the spread.

“Beyond that, this program continued after we had our index case. During the lockdowns, the media was the source of all information and we collaborated with the Independent Radio Network (IRN) and other media groups to speak with one voice,” Nasralla noted.

The SLAJ president said people all over the country relied on the media for accurate information on the virus and also about what the government was doing, especially in areas such as care and prevention.

Despite not undertaking any survey to gauge the contribution of the media in the fight, Nasralla stated that the feedback from various sections of the society, including from the government and development partners, was positive as people seemed to have appreciated the message of prevention and compliance with health measures.

He encouraged his fellow journalists to observe all safety measures while reporting public health emergencies like the current COVID-19 pandemic.

He noted that when the pandemic started, they issued out safety guidelines together with the Sierra Leone Reporters’ Union on how media houses should protect their members and guests coming into their radio and TV stations.

“We also provided information tips to journalists going out to get news on the virus, which is what we called self-preservation,” he added.

Coordinating the fight

When the pandemic broke out in Sierra Leone on 31 March 2020, the government set up a task force that was charged with coordinating the fight against the disease. The National Coronavirus Emergency Response Centre (NaCOVERC) is headed by the Minister of Defence, Brig. (Rtd.) Kellie Conteh, who served as the National Coordinator.

Communication Pillar Lead at NaCOVERC, Harold Thomas, said there were five strategies adopted to pass on critical information to the public on the pandemic, namely: Risk Communication plans and mechanisms, public communication, internal and partner communication and coordination, rumour management, and coordination and engagement with effected or targeted communities.

He however could not immediately provide details of the impact of the said strategies on the behaviour of the public towards the virus.

Traditional media remains key

With the advent of social media characterized by misinformation, the traditional media played a key role in creating balance amid the abundance of information being put out to the public. The public largely relied on the traditional media as sources of credible information about the pandemic.

Mabinty Aziza Mansaray, a student at the Institute of Public Administration and Management, said she trusted news coming from radio and television covering the Coronavirus pandemic in Sierra Leone.

“At first, I doubted the reality of the virus but when I started getting information on it from radio and television, I started taking measures to prevent myself and family from contracting the virus,” she said.

“I believe messages coming from the various media outlets helped Sierra Leoneans to understand what to do to keep themselves safe from the virus.”

She added that the media had been very instrumental because it did not only provide the platform for people leading the response to share useful information about the virus, but that the journalists themselves became the true harbingers of credible information.

“Journalists carried out public education during the Ebola outbreak and they are playing a similar role during this current Coronavirus pandemic,” she said.

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‘Govt. not averse to receiving deportees’

admin — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 12:10:01 +0000

‘Govt. not averse to receiving deportees’ admin Thu, 09/24/2020 - 12:10

Thursday, September 24, 2020

Original Publisher

Politics – Sierra Leone Concord Times

Original Article

‘Govt. not averse to receiving deportees’

-Says Foreign Affairs Minister

September 23, 2020

By Freddie Hayward

Foreign Minister Nabeela Tunis has said that the government will not compromise its process for verifying the nationality of deportees from the United States, following the US Embassy accusing the Sierra Leonean government of an inconsistent and delayed removals process.

Speaking at a press conference, the foreign minister strongly denied claims by the US Embassy that Sierra Leone was not compliant with deportations and expressed a strong commitment to the verification process.

“As a country we have a responsibility to go through the verification process as our national processes deem fit…despite the fact that we are under a lot of pressure to receive these people who are alleged Sierra Leoneans from the United States,” said the foreign minister.

The US Embassy has suspended the issuance of all visas to Sierra Leoneans and has said that it will only reconsider the visa sanction once an improved removal process is put in place by the Sierra Leonean government.

“What we are looking for is a consistent, reputable, routine process by which the government of Sierra Leone issues these travel documents to their citizens,” US Ambassador Marie Brewer told Radio Democracy yesterday.

However, the foreign minister is adamant that the government is compliant with deportation requests: “We have told them over and over again that we are not averse to accepting our nationals. We are ready to accept our nationals and we have been doing that for a very long time,” said the foreign minister.

Ambassador Brewer stated that the number of people waiting for deportation to Sierra Leone stands at approximately 1,300.

The Sierra Leonean government will verify that each deportee is a Sierra Leonean national before accepting their repatriation.

The foreign minister also stated that the coronavirus pandemic has impeded the government’s ability to repatriate nationals.

“There was a delay in us effecting [the verification process] because… the airports were closed… it is not practically possible for us to execute the request for deportations. Therefore, for a certain length of time we could not have these deportations done. But immediately when the airports were opened we did receive eight people in August,” she said.

The foreign minister said that the verification process can last between a few hours and a couple of days depending on the level of documentation available.

The government has set up a committee responsible for verification comprising representatives from the immigration department, labour ministry, the Office of National Security, International Organisation for Migration, social welfare and the foreign ministry.

The committee was set up following the case of two deportees last year who claimed to be from the Caribbean rather than Sierra Leone.

Ambassador Brewer has said that it was the government of Sierra Leone that issued the travel documents to the two deportees and it was therefore their responsibility to verify their nationality.

The disagreement between the two countries has worsened over the past few years. Visa sanctions have been in place since 2016 and they were expanded in 2017 to include all foreign ministry and immigration officials. The latest round of sanctions are the most severe the country have suffered. Those that already have a visa will still be able to travel and the US Embassy has said it will respect its international obligations to supply visas to diplomats and embassy staff.

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‘2020, a year of delivery in the health sector’

admin — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 13:00:02 +0000

‘2020, a year of delivery in the health sector’ admin Tue, 09/15/2020 - 13:00

Tuesday, September 15, 2020

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Local – Sierra Leone Concord Times

Original Article

‘2020, a year of delivery in the health sector’

-Health Minister

September 14, 2020

By Mohamed M. Sesay

Minister of Health and Sanitation, Prof. Alpha Tejan Wurrie

Connaught staff at the donation scene

Minister of Health and Sanitation, Professor Alpha Wurie Tejan Jalloh, has on Thursday assured health workers that 2020 would be a year of delivery within the rapid transformation of the country’s health sector to match with global standards.

Professor Wurie made the above statement when presenting medical equipment to the Connaught Government Hospital in Freetown.

The donated items include ten Oxygen Concentrators, sanitizers, Miller water tanks, uniforms for staff, IPCs and a lot more items geared towards boosting staff capacity and improving the Connaught facility.

‘’It has been extremely difficult as a result of the consequences of the covid-19 virus. Yet still, I am here for you to believe that there are quite a bit we can deliver this year. 2020 is the year of deliver within the health sector,’’ he assured.

Professor Wurie noted that Connaught is the flagship hospital of the country, adding that the hospital has seven hundred and forty-seven healthcare workers, eight-five house officers and forty-three specialists and medical doctors.

He added that the supplementary budget has a quota or an amount meant for the rehabilitation of every government hospital in the country, affirming that the government’s supplementary budget has three key areas including diagnostic that would soon be addressed.

He said the ministry would be working with radiologists to help draw a scheme that would inform the government with regards to the purchasing of diagnostic machine.

The health minister continued that that was the first time in the history of Sierra Leone that government has a budgeted project in order to strengthen the health sector.

He said there was another health related project running simultaneously with the government budgeted project funded by the Islamic Development Bank- the project as covid-19 response one (1).

He added that the bulk of that project would be focused on a health system strengthening which encompasses thirty-forty beds unit in every district of Sierra Leone for disease response.

He further stated that government has given pin codes to three thousand, five hundred health workers in this year alone, adding that government has also given authority to his ministry to employ another three thousand health workers.

He concluded with a glad tidings that the ministry has sent a project to Global Fund, adding that the ministry could now brag of a sector-wide programme of over fifty million United States Dollars from World Bank.

In her statement, Chairperson, Board of Administration of the University of Sierra Leone Teaching Hospitals, Dr. Sonia M. Spencer, said the teaching hospital complex is made of six hospitals of which Connaught happens to be the main one.

Said the new Board for the teaching hospital is faced with some challenges which staff, patients and administrators complained about every day.

She said the donated items were direly needed and appealed to the minister to replicate similar donation to the remaining hospitals across the country.

Sierra Leone

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African operations contribute 50% to UBA’s earnings – CEO

admin — Sun, 04 Jun 2023 12:00:01 +0000

African operations contribute 50% to UBA’s earnings – CEO

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admin Sun, 06/04/2023 - 12:00

Friday, May 26, 2023

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Business Archives | Premium Times Nigeria

Original Article

African operations contribute 50% to UBA’s earnings – CEO

The United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc on Thursday announced that all its African subsidiaries are now on firm footing as they have been contributing maximally to the group’s profit margin.

The bank said its African operations, specifically, have contributed close to 50 per cent of the group’s earnings, leveraging on digital offerings and products across the board to gain large market shares across the different regions of operations in Africa.

The Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of UBA Africa, Abiola Bawuah, disclosed this while addressing journalists from across Africa during a hybrid media parley on Thursday.

She also highlighted the impact of devaluation and double digit inflation in Nigeria and a number of other African countries where the bank operates, adding that the subsidiaries have been performing well, contributing significantly to the growth and development of trade, infrastructure and finance on the continent.

“As of last month, none of our African subsidiaries is making a loss. They have all been turning in profits, this is a testament to the fact that they have navigated successfully and have all found their footing.

“And this extends to each and every one of them, even the ones in war-torn countries. Of course, we are aware that there is always room for improvement, but for now, we are glad that our 19 subsidiaries are out of the red zone,” Mrs Bawuah said.

Infrastructure Financing

In the area of infrastructure financing, she noted that the bank has been bullish in financing projects across Africa, which according to her is based on the conviction that the continent needs to bridge the infrastructural gap necessary for economic growth.

“UBA has proven expertise and capacity in key sectors of economies across Africa, especially in oil and gas, infrastructure finance, agriculture and commodity/export, and these have positioned it as a preferred partner for structured solutions to key governments and corporates operating in/into Africa,” she said.

She noted that in the last few years, the bank has invested heavily and supported key governments of various African countries with over $1 billion in infrastructural development, especially in roads, hospitals, health, power and other critical sectors.

READ ALSO: Reps summon NNPC subsidiaries over auditor general report

According to her, the bank has contributed massively in promoting trade in Africa and has partnered with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

“At UBA, we believe that our customers should be able to trade conveniently among themselves, and so we have been partnering with them in this area.

“We have made it easy for our customers across countries to trade easily within themselves, without having to bother about all the hassles that have to do with forex,” she said.

Earlier in the year, Mrs Bawuah, a Ghanaian national, was appointed as the first female CEO of UBA Africa.

Her appointment, according to the bank, further demonstrates UBA’s commitment to diversity. The UBA Group Board now includes eight female Directors.

Before her appointment, Mrs Bawuah was Regional CEO, West Africa, supervising the Group’s operations in nine subsidiaries, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Senegal, and Sierra Leone.

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CAF reinstates Sao Tome in AFCON qualifiers

admin — Sun, 19 Jun 2022 15:00:01 +0000

CAF reinstates Sao Tome in AFCON qualifiers admin Sun, 06/19/2022 - 15:00

Thursday, June 2, 2022

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Local – Sierra Leone Concord Times

Original Article

CAF reinstates Sao Tome in AFCON qualifiers

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reinstated Sao Tome and Principe in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers following an appeal against Mauritius.

This was announced in a statement on the federation’s website on Wednesday.

The Falcons and True Parrots Team will now join Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Guinea-Bissau in Group A of the Cote d’Ivoire 2023 AFCON qualifiers.

Sao Tome had won the preliminary tie 4-3 on aggregate over Mauritius, but the losing side took the case before CAF.

Mauritius complained that Sao Tome’s Luis Leal had not followed the CAF’s COVID-19 protocol.

They added that the Bolivia-based striker, who scored the only goal in the first leg of the tie, was not eligible to play against them because his PCR test dated more than 72 hours before the match, infringing on CAF protocol that tests must be from 48 hours.

During an initial ruling last month, CAF disciplinary board upheld Mauritius’ appeal, awarding the country a work-over for the first game of the encounter.

However, in the latest decision, the CAF appeal board said, “the result of the match between Mauritius and São Tomé and Príncipe is ratified and validated.”

It added that “the appeal of the São Tomé and Príncipe Football Association is upheld, and the decision of the CAF Disciplinary Board is set aside in its entirety.”

“São Tomé and Príncipe Football Association took the decision of the CAF Disciplinary Board (May 8 2022) to overturn the results of their match against Mauritius in the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations preliminary qualifiers played on March 24 2022, on review with the CAF Appeals Board,” read the statement.

“After hearing both parties’ presentations, the CAF Appeals Board ruled that: The Appeal of São Tomé and Príncipe Football Association is considered admissible in form. The Appeal of the São Tomé and Príncipe Football Association is upheld, and the decision of the CAF Disciplinary Board is set aside in its entirety.

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Examination malpractice: ACC cracks down on 11 pupils

admin — Sun, 19 Jun 2022 14:50:01 +0000

Examination malpractice: ACC cracks down on 11 pupils admin Sun, 06/19/2022 - 14:50

Friday, June 3, 2022

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Local – Sierra Leone Concord Times

Original Article

Examination malpractice: ACC cracks down on 11 pupils

By Alfred Koroma

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Scorpion Squad has yesterday raided and arrested 11 pupils taking the Mathematics WASSCE exam in the house of one Ibrahim Turay near a school at Deep Eye Water, ACC Commissioner, Francis Ben Kaifala wrote on his Facebook page.

The Commissioner did not state the name of the school, but photos of one of the pupils Admission Notice accompanying the post, named the school as Moses Academy Senior Secondary School, Deep Eye. Ibrahim Turay is said to be the proprietor of the school.

According to the Commissioner, the malpractice ring was coordinator by the principal of the school who brought in a Maths student from Njala University to assist the students by isolating them from the nearby Centre and allow them to freely cheat while exams were on in the centre.

“They were caught with all exam materials. In the exam hall itself, dozens of pupils had their mobile phones with them, all allowed to by the supervisors to cheat.

WASSCE Exam malpractice is on the rise in Sierra Leone. It is not uncommon to see pupils entering examination halls with mobile phones and other materials foreign to the examination. Sometimes students get leakages almost a day into the exam.

Fingers have been pointed at WAEC, the regional body conducting all public exams in the country of being complicit of the malpractice.

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Gborie’s Pen: Parliament ends debate: Is SLPP under heat?

admin — Sun, 19 Jun 2022 14:50:01 +0000

Gborie’s Pen: Parliament ends debate: Is SLPP under heat? admin Sun, 06/19/2022 - 14:50

Friday, June 3, 2022

Original Publisher

Local – Sierra Leone Concord Times

Original Article

Gborie’s Pen: Parliament ends debate: Is SLPP under heat?

By Emmanuel Gborie

There is an adage that says, “It’s a stubborn fly that follows the cops to the grave.”Parliamentary debate on the president’s speech delivered during the State Opening of the Fifth Session of the Second Republic has come to an end after four days of intense clash of opinions between MPs of the ruling party and that of the opposition All People’s Congress (APC), the Coalition for Change (C4C) and the National Grand Coalition (NGC).

As events unfolded during the parliamentary debate, it was clear that the ruling government can benefit a lot from the propositions and claims of the opposition parties whose MPs have been able to evidently highlight some of the loopholes, inconsistences and concerns that undermines the New Direction Manifesto, the delivery of the president’s promises to the nation and the hope for the future of this nation.

It is often required or demanded of the opposition in Parliament to assess, evaluate, analyze and critically critic unsatisfactory activities carried out by the ruling government which enhances and create a balance in the governance systems of the country. Parliament or the legislature, especially the opposition serves as an ambiance to the growth, progress and development of a country through providing guide and serving as checks and balances to the government day.

What went on those few days in Parliament was an indication and manifestation to the fact that the opposition parties in Parliament are awake and are doing their homework well as expected of them in a democratically oriented state like ours. From the start of the debate to the end, they have undoubtedly delivered and raised sensitive concerns and issues that should help the current regime if they are to succeed in making this nation a better one. Well, this is, if the ruling government is willing and courageous enough to humbly look into those realities, swallowing their pride and accepting the responsibility of their commitment to the people of Sierra Leone.

Hon. Saa Francis Bhendu of Constituency 07 and of the C4C in his presentation on the first day of sittings admonished colleague MPs that they should carefully look into the president’s speech and make critical analyses of all what is captured in the document and proffer better solutions to the problems envisaged in the paper. He stated that they as MPs are responsible to the day to day administration of the nation and their various constituencies, noting clearly that the electorates are more superior to the MPs.

The fact is, despite what the president and the current government has done, for which they are to be commended, there are areas also that they’ve not gotten right, thus there is a need for correction and improvement if we are to move forward as a nation. Fortunately for them, the opposition MPs have highlighted key issues in some areas and sectors which they should critically take note of if they are to be considered as a serious government who feel for the people, are accountable and are responsible.

Some of the areas mentioned in during the debate were: The issue of inflation (prices of commodities, fuel and food stuffs especially rice)Agriculture and food security, Health, Electricity and water supply,

Corruption and the issue of the Auditor General’s Report, moneys unaccounted for by the ministry of finance.

The state of teachers who are very instrumental to administering the quality in the Free, Quality Education, Awarding of contracts and implementation of projects to undeserving individuals and institutions by this Government (BRAC and the World Bank support fund ), basing national development on the result of the just concluded census. The issue of human rights violation by the government.

These and other areas are a great concern to us as a nation if only we are sincere with ourselves.

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High Court to try bike rider for alleged murder

admin — Sun, 19 Jun 2022 14:50:01 +0000

High Court to try bike rider for alleged murder admin Sun, 06/19/2022 - 14:50

Friday, June 3, 2022

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Local – Sierra Leone Concord Times

Original Article

High Court to try bike rider for alleged murder

By Yusufu S. Bangura

Twenty-nine-year-old bike rider, Ibrahim Mohamed Kamara, was yesterday committed to the High Court of Freetown by Magistrate Sahr Kekura of the Pademba Road Court No.1 for the alleged murder of one Alpha Sankoh.

The accused person was before the court on one count of murder contrary to law.

According to the police file, it was alleged that the accused on Saturday 21st January 2022, at Ro-Theren village, Romende Chiefdom, PortLoko District, murdered Alpha Sankoh.

At the start of the matter, the charge was read and explained to the accused person, but no plea was taken because it was a preliminary investigation.

Before committing the matter to High Court for further trial, Magistrate Kekura said the prosecution in a bid to prove its case against the accused person called six witnesses to testify in respect of the matter, including the formal witness, exhibit Clerk and the scene of crime officer who tendered various exhibits respectively.

He said the accused person himself only cross examined the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th witnesses but he didn’t cross examine the 5th and 6th witnesses.

He added that his duty was to examine the evidence adduced before the court and that should the prosecution established sufficient evidence against the accused person the matter would be committed to the High Court for trials, but if there’s no sufficient evidence the accused would be discharged pursuant to Section 118 of the Criminal Procedure Act No.32 of 1965.

Magistrate Kekura said after looking into the evidence in its entirety including the statement of the accused person made to the police where he admitted that the allegation made against him was true and further admitted that he harmed the victim Alpha Sankoh now deceased by chopping him with a cutlass twice on his head and chin, which led to his demise.

He said in view of the confessional statement made to the police by the accused person including exhibit R1-11 which is the photographic album that contains the remains of the deceased, the death certificate and Exhibit C1-4, the prosecution had convinced him that they have established sufficient evidence against the accused for him to stand trial at the High Court.

Meanwhile,Magistrate Kekura refused bail to the accused and sent him to the Male Correctional Centre in Freetown until the commencement of the matter at the High Court.

The matter was prosecuted by Sergeant 9939 Momodu Lahai.

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EU Supports Sierra Leone School Green Club in Poetry and Arts Competition

admin — Sun, 19 Jun 2022 14:50:01 +0000

EU Supports Sierra Leone School Green Club in Poetry and Arts Competition admin Sun, 06/19/2022 - 14:50

Friday, June 3, 2022

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Local – Sierra Leone Concord Times

Original Article

EU Supports Sierra Leone School Green Club in Poetry and Arts Competition

The Delegation of the European Union to Sierra Leone in collaboration with the Sierra Leone School Green Club (SLSGC) will on Monday 6th June 2022, organise a youth climate poetry and arts competition for Senior Secondary Schools, to raise awareness on the impact of climate change and environmental degradation in Sierra Leone, as part of celebrations marking World Environment Day 2022.

The presentation of poems and artwork produced by the students will take place at the Freetown City Council Auditorium during which the winning entries will be announced and prizes presented. Ten Senior Secondary schools in Freetown will take part in the competition, which will be judged by a panel of accomplished Sierra Leonean artists.

Fighting climate change and promoting environmental sustainability is one of the priorities of the European Union. In Sierra Leone, many of the natural ecosystems are losing their ability to provide the livelihood services required by the population, hence the urgent need for halting and reversing environmental degradation in all the key ecosystems (forest, coastal, maritime) in the country.

For this reason, the European Union (EU) is supporting Sierra Leone School Green Club to highlight the importance of everyone actively contributing to the protection of the environment and to raise awareness on the consequences of environmental degradation and climate change on the population, as the schoolchildren who will participate in the competition are doing. This demonstrates that youth have a critical role to play in the climate discourse by not only raising their voices but also actively engaging in awareness raising to foster the policy changes required to mitigate climate change and develop climate resilience.

“EU strongly believes that the future of our planet is in young people’s hands – and many are taking action to tackle the impacts of climate change and environmental challenges. Young people are finding their voice in demanding more climate action from decision-makers to protect their future,” says Ambassador Manuel Müller, Head of EU Delegation to Sierra Leone.

The EU will continue to work with the Government and people of Sierra Leone to tackle the climate, biodiversity, environment and pollution challenges, with a strong focus on nature protection and restoration, in line with the European Green Deal, which is one of the main pillars of EU partnership with Sierra Leone, as reflected in the Multi Annual Indicative Programme (MIP) for cooperation between the European Union and Sierra Leone for the period 2021/2027.

The EU is currently supporting different environmental and biodiversity initiatives from national and regional programmes, targeting more than 80% of all protected areas of Sierra Leone in the following geographical areas:

– Kambui Hills National Park;

– Outamba-Kilimi National Park;

– Management of Mangrove Forests (coastal landscapes from Senegal to Benin);

– Conservation of the Gola Forest Landscape (Sierra Leone and Liberia);

– Revision of National Determined Contribution (NDC);

– Blue carbon project in the mangrove forest of the Sherbro River.

The EU is also involved in a wide range of projects promoting green and sustainable agriculture, associated with fair trade and organic certification. The Arts and Poetry competition, which has as part of its objectives, creating artwork that will convey strong messages about climate change and its negative impact on the environment and the people, will be an occasion to showcase once again the EU’s commitment to fight climate change and promote environmental sustainability in Sierra Leone and across the world.

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UN Resident Coordinator commends First Lady, GOSL for improving menstrual health

admin — Sun, 19 Jun 2022 14:50:01 +0000

UN Resident Coordinator commends First Lady, GOSL for improving menstrual health admin Sun, 06/19/2022 - 14:50

Friday, June 3, 2022

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Local – Sierra Leone Concord Times

Original Article

UN Resident Coordinator commends First Lady, GOSL for improving menstrual health

By Alfred Koroma

The UN resident Coordinator, Dr. Babatunde Ahonsi has commended the First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Fatima Bio and the Government of Sierra Leone (GOSL) for providing transformative leadership in advancing the menstrual health of women and girls in the country.

The UN resident Coordinator also commended the Government for its sustained commitment to ensuring that no one is left behind in the country’s development trajectory by implementing programmes targeting reproductive education, health, and rights.

Dr. Ahonsi was speaking at the launch of the 2022 Free Sanitary Pad Distribution Campaign.

While speaking, Ahonsi recalled the story of a pubescent girl named Daniella from Jui, Western Rural Area who on one morning disclosed to her older brother her fear of going to school when she discovered her menstruation has started while preparing to go to school that morning.

Daniella’s brother found her clutched at her pillow and sobbing at a time they were supposed to be already starting their 10-minute walk to school together.

Ahonsi said the girl who was experiencing menstruation for the first time became afraid of leaving her room to face the world with the change happening in her body because nobody had prepared her for that day, hitting lack of reproductive health education as one of the many barriers for many young girls across Sierra Leone.

The start of menstruation typically means a loss of days in school. The inherent culture of silence around menstruation also bars girls from consulting others about this change, including reaching out to more knowledgeable adults. The memories of seeing other menstruating girls being mocked and shamed, especially by male colleagues, further push many girls to stay away from school during this time, says UN Resident Coordinator, noting that overcoming these barriers requires political, corporate, and public sector leadership.

“Making menstruation a normal fact of life by 2030,” is the theme of this year’s World Menstrual Hygiene Day. Referencing this year’s theme, Ahonsi emphasizes the need to build a world where no girl is without safety supplies and easy access to menstrual products by 2030.

“It is also about raising awareness of the inability of many girls to afford the menstrual supplies needed to manage health and hygiene with dignity, which coupled with cultural taboos, often limits their participation in daily activities including attending school. Furthermore, stigma and myths related to menstruation often reinforce discriminatory practices,” he said.

In Africa, Puberty, a stage where every healthy girl usually starts menstruation is considered as an entry to adulthood often resulting to child marriage, Ahonsi said, adding that platforms such as the commemoration of Menstrual Hygiene Day provide an opportunity for stakeholders to interrogate the interconnectedness of the vulnerabilities that women and girls face require multi-sectoral solutions.

He said Government has a key role in setting regulations for menstrual materials, taxation considerations, and determining the impact of policy proposals such as free sanitary pads in schools, further saying that investments in menstrual hygiene, from both public and private sectors, provide the opportunity to take effective menstrual hygiene solutions to scale.

He assured UN continued support to women and girls’ multi-dimensional needs through ongoing programmes that seek to improve sexual and reproductive health, access to appropriate water, sanitation, and hygiene as well as access to education.

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