Connaught Hospital faces water crisis

James Fallah 28/3/2007

Ministry of Health and Sanitation's Public Relations Officer, Jonathan Kamara Friday told Concord Times that Connaught Hospital is currently facing acute water shortage.Making this revelation at his Youyi Building office in Freetown , Kamara said some wards are without pipe-borne water.“This situation is a serious concern for the welfare of patients because pure water is essential for healthy living,” he said adding that most of the water pipes in the hospital are old and blocked thus preventing the free flow of water.However, he said the Hospital Management Committee is working with Guma Valley Water Company to salvage the problem and denied claims made by some patients that the hospital's authorities are asking them to provide fuel for the generator.

Chief Pathologist at the mortuary, Dr. Simeon Koroma maintained that his department is faced with some constraints but promised to do his best and to ensure that the mortuary functions effectively.Dr. Koroma also said that the hospital is yet to confirm the employment of some of his workers.

“Journalists have a role to play to end impunity”… Social Welfare Minister

By: Sahr Morris Jr.

Minister of Social Welfare Gender and Children's Affairs, Dr. Shirley Gbujama Wednesday said journalist have a role to play to put an end to impunity and stop violence amongst against women and children.She made this statement at the ministry's conference room, New England during a one- day workshop held for media practitioners on the three drafts bills for women and the campaign on the intersection between violence against women and HIV/AIDS.“Levity is impunity and there must been a punishment for people who impunities the right of women and child,” the Minister said and expressed disappointment over journalist saying that they are not reporting on women issues.

She said, since these years International Women's Day (IWD) celebration theme is “Ending Impunity! Stop Violence against Women”, in Sierra Leone , they have decided to use the theme “End Impunity! Stop violence against women.”The Minister recalled that the country has been celebrating this day since 1985 and since then the event has become a means of monitoring progress made towards the advancement of women and the attainment of gender equity in the country.

Making her presentation of the concept of the intersection between violence against women and HIV/AID, Sylvia Goba of Action Aid said, the two are intercepted no one can go without the other, adding that women face a lot of epdiema of violence in different sphere of the community, which include homes, public etc that may lead to her having HIV/AIDS.“Women are under going a lot of social, culture and economics factors which lead them to trap the epidemic. With the implementation of the draft bill I believe this will come to an end,” she said and urges the authorities concern to enact the bill.

Unicef, Marie Stopes promote exclusive breastfeeding

Rachel Horner 3/3/2007

Marie Stopes in collaboration with UNICEF and the Ministry of Health and Sanitation Friday issued certificates to healthy and exclusively breastfed babies from 0-6 months old.The exercise which was funded by UNICEF is geared towards sensitizing and encouraging suckling mothers to exclusively breast feed their babies with breast milk as the latter is the best and safest food for babies.Marie Stopes' Outreach Coordinator, Anna Macauley explained that at times the water used by lactating mothers to mix the powdered milk is not pure thus exposing the children to diarrhea.Macauley also encouraged pregnant women to add some amount of iodized salt in their meals unlike the local salt, the {English] salt contains iodine which is important for the growth of the child.She maintained that pregnant women should eat more of fish, crabs and sea food as these foods prevent babies from suffering from Goiter.“I am encouraging suckling mothers to take vitamin A capsules as it helps to improve the eyesight of the child,” she said and warned pregnant women against the use of vitamin A capsules during pregnancy.Free vaccination and examination exercise was also conducted on suckling babies whereupon it was confirmed that over 90% of babies that took part in the exercise were healthy, which demonstrates, according to the Outreach Coordinator their mothers are feeding them exclusively with breast milk.Isatu Conteh, a proud mother with a healthy four months old baby said she is a mother of five children adding, she has been feeding all her children with her breast milk.

Conteh lauded Marie Stopes for their excellent services rendered to the public and expressed satisfaction over the certificates and gifts given to them.They were also given refreshment.

HIV/AIDS messiah in town

Babah Kanu 15/2/2007

To complement the effort of the National Aids Secretariat, Mrs. Yvonne Washington Turay, an African-American arrived Freetown to sensitize Sierra Leoneans on how to prevent themselves from being affected with HIV/AIDS.Turay is based in the USA where she practices her nursing profession and she has served as a United States Air Force nurse for over ten years. “I have been called by God to serve the people of Freetown, Sierra Leone where I provide medical care, food, HIV prevention for the past six years”, she said.Her programme, ‘God's House International Inc,” is a product of the several visits she made to the Northern town of Gbendembu in the Bombali District where her husband hails from.During her visit, she spoke to people in various communities in Kalangba, Gbendemby and the Northern Headquarter town, Makeni. Back in Freetown , she held street discussions on HIV/AIDS and spoke to women whom she said are the most vulnerable because they do not have access to the female condom as a prevention method.

Turay said she has discovered that women are just being sensitized but do not prevent themselves. “They know very little about the female condom'” she lamented.She promised to engage in the prevention of HIV/AIDS and provision of the female condom for Sierra Leonean women which will be provided free of charge to the residents.“This will be a clinic which will have several guest rooms for volunteers who help to provide service to the Freetown community. I am soliciting support to help with the continued operational expenses of this project,” she concluded . 

IRC collects blood samples from Sojas, Students

Edward Yorpor 14/2/2007

International Rescue Committee (IRC)'s HIV Prevention and Blood Safety Programme, last week collected 26 blood samples from military personnel, students and community members in Joru, Gaura chiefdom, Kenema district.IRC's HIV Prevention Manager, Max Kanga, maintained that the blood donated would be used to assist women and children in cases of emergency.

Max stated that the donors donated their blood voluntarily to help their brothers and sisters who could not afford to pay for blood services.The Training Officer and Supervisor of IRC Blood Safety, Josephine Jamiru, in her words said the 26 units of screened blood will be taken to the Kenema Government Hospital 's blood safety bank which was rehabilitated by IRC's Kenema Field Office.

“Though the blood was screened, it needs proper screening exercise to ensure that it is safe for transfusion,” she said.She explained further that IRC is ready to support blood donation programs in communities.

How to plan your family finances

Mariama Kandeh 13/2/2007

When it comes to finances, the family is a very complex institution, especially when one thinks of grooming children including taking care of their unreasonable demands. A child as young as 3 or 4 years in inn elementary school or a child at 6 or 7 in primary school do not and cannot know the earnings of their parents. All they would care about is how their needs could be urgently addressed.In situations like these, it is only those properly planned family finances that could handle such problems with ease. In Sierra Leone , where one finds it hard to make a living even without a child or a family, it is worth understanding proper ways of planning our families and family finances. A life and career incentive can be very helpful in managing the finances of the family.

However, one's imagination may comprise a detailed account of one's personal family expenses within a given period of time including excess in case of emergencies. Conversely preparation should be made for the basic necessities of the family, including health, food, clothing, furniture etc. An inventory sort of must also be made for vocational/personal resources and for accomplishments such as education, talents experiences etc.One must also make a flashback on activities that have shaped one's life, including religion, ethnicity, family and culture. One must identify his strength and weaknesses and then set his ambitions right in response to such questions as how stable is my current income? Do I have monthly surplus for savings or I would always dip into my reserve to be able meet immediate expenses? Are my savings and assets appreciable? Are my debts exposure more than my financial assets? Do my future commitments limit my financial flexibility? Do I have sub-optimizing assets that are not worth the sentiments attached to them? With these questions you would have properly assessed your lifetime financial resources.The next step is to work with your family in unison to be able to plan your life time finances. For success, partners must always understand and work with one another. You must have a family spending system and observe how each family member is responding to the system.

Examine and understand the spending motivations of family members. This is necessary because for many young couple their spending motivation comes from peer pressure or to gain some status in life. Children especially in their teens are often motivated to spend due to peer pressure. At their teenage they are merely moved by fashion and what not. This will run through their early adult age and therefore very difficult to satisfy unless a stiff family financial policy is drawn and implemented.Against this backdrop, spending should be made purely for the economics of it. From the above, it is the responsibility of the financial planner to observe how individual family members manage their finances. For instance an existing spending style could be transformed into the family spending style thus giving some families a uniform family financial planning system. Marriage couples should be interdependent and not completely dependent so that the wife or husband could not dominate in making expenditure decisions.

It should take the form of constructive negotiation to reach a common ground much in the interest of the family. Partners, especially those that are domineering, should eschew competition and manipulation in managing resources in their home.However, a good financial planner is always aware and understands vividly how the financial world works. For one to know where, when and how to spend money one should understand the value of money, the trend of inflations and how they affect the value of liquid resources, government policies and their effects on the economy, investment and returns, national revenue collections and maintenance of balance between risk and reward and above all know the kind of financial risk you take.Finally, you point out targets to reach your financial achievement. In implementing your financial plan, draw up achievement schedule which can be made up of a scale of preference. Perhaps factors to be considered would include both your recurrent and capital goals: resource requirements, timing and future values of these goals.Goals must also be merged with investment. These investments could be divided into cash investment, which includes savings and time deposit and treasury bills and balances with credit and thrift society benefits. Shares, bond and capital market investment are also very important. As Sierra Leone moves toward the establishment of the capital market, it is encouraging for families, individuals and institutions to invest in it for the benefit of the nation. For example real estate investment: houses or land and high stake speculative investments such as in business, farming etc.

Implement your profit plan by following the principle of your personal financial plan. You must always expect some imminent changes in your plans and you should be able to cope with these changes, reevaluate your sacred assets to align with your changing values. Reassess your priorities; put your priorities right, redefine your tolerance for risk and take a value added approach to your career income planning. Don't spend more than your can earn. Be reasonable in your spending and spend wisely.

NMJD, SLRCS school youths on HIV/AIDS

Mohamed Massaquoi 13/2/2007

Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD) in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society (SLRCS), International Rescue Committee Saturday organized a community based response symposium on HIV/AIDS for students and youths at the Capital Villa One hall in Kenema.The symposium was meant to exhibit various skills and knowledge acquired over the years in HIV/AIDS sensitization campaign in the region.In her keynote address, NMJD Regional Administrator, Alice McCarthy explained that her organization put the ceremony together to sensitize youths and students alike on the dangers of these dreaded diseases in our society more especially as the youths are the most sexually attractive.

She advised students to take the seminar more seriously as it has to do with the future generation. “The disease is real and has no discrimination; it can affect women, children and youth as well. It is very important for us to work together in order to control the epidemic in our communities and the country at large.” NMJD embarked on series of activities of which HIV is one of them. In 2006, we organized this forum for adults but we see it necessary this time to deal with school children and youths.” she said adding that her organization will continue to support HIV and AIDS sensitization in schools and communities.Branch Health Officer of the SLRCS, Sheku Bockarie emphasized the danger of the disease and that youths must ensure that they protect themselves from the disease.Bockarie explained that his organization has created a Peer Health Education Pogramme for school children in order to mount serious campaign on the prevention and control of the disease.He stressed that the disease is prevalent among youths, workers, travelers and commercial sex workers.Bockarie later appreciated the effort of NMJD for organizing such an educative programme for youths in the region.

EU to tackle FGM

Abdul Karim Koroma 12/2/2007

European Union (EU) has signed up to end the cruel practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), a release issued on Tuesday stated.“The EU will continue to do what we can to put an end to this practice which happens not only outside our border but also within,” the release wrote citing the Cotonou Agreement which recommended the prevention of FGM.

The release stated that the EU estimated about 150 million women to be suffering throughout their lives, from the consequences of this harmful practice.“Each year, some two million girls undergo this ordeal. This cannot be justified by any so-called tradition. It must end and it must end now,” the release disclosed adding that the EU is advocating and lobbying for legislations to be enacted criminalizing the practice.

“Practices like forced marriage and female genital mutilation are the target of a special line of European Commission assistance. The European Initiative for Democratization and Human Rights (EIDHR) to be replaced from 2007 by the new Instrument for the Promotion of Democracy and Human Rights has traditionally supported projects for the promotion of women's rights,” the released disclosed.

However, the release stated that without the involvement of all levels of society, the chances of effectively enforcing legislations will be limited .

SZRECC to Recruit Surgeons, Nurses

Abdul Karim Koroma 7/2/2007

The Sheikh Zayed Regional Eye Care Centre (SZRECC) which treats a lot of people for sight threatening conditions such as cataract is looking for eye surgeons and nurses to work across West Africa .

The information contained in a release from SZRECC also states that the project was an achievement of The Health for Peace Initiative (HFPI) which is implementing its projects in Guinea , Guinea Bissau, The Gambia, Senegal , Liberia , Sierra Leone , Mauritania and Mali .

For the past six years, the release stated, the organisation has been tackling major health issues affecting the region including avoidable blindness, immunisation, malaria and HIV/AIDS .SZRECC would serve eight West African countries using The Gambia as its regional office head office.

African leaders and non governmental organisations described SZRECC as a historic example of regional cooperation and global partnership being used to combat Africa 's dire shortage of healthcare professionals.

The Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahayan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation based in the Middle East donated US$1.5 million towards the new facility.

Doctors encouraging domestic violence

Mohamed Massaquoi 7/2/2007

Officer-in-Charge of Family Support Unit (FSU) in Kenema, Esther Kamara yesterday stated that medical doctors at the Kenema Government Hospital were charging huge sum of money to conduct medical examinations for physically-assaulted women.

She said all of the physically-assaulted victims were issued with medical forms to the government hospital only to return without the necessary treatment because of the amount charged by the doctors. “The victims prefer to drop the matter instead of paying Le 30,000 to the medical doctors”, Kamara asserted.

In an interview with Concord Times at the Kenema Police Station, Kamara said this latest development has paved the way for more husbands in the region to increase the violent attacks on their women and hindering their efforts.

“Sexual violence is gradually reducing as we have embarked on a serious community sensitization campaign. Even the traditional authorities are cooperating with us as they report most cases of such nature to us,” she said.

“We have raised concern over this development as it undermines the good effort of the FSU in combating domestic violence in the region,” she said adding that pupils in various secondary schools in the district are also complaining that teachers levy severe punishment on them which violates their rights.

She highlights that they have developed a working plan for 2007 requires their visiting communities wherever they notice a high rate of domestic violence.

Boys, 7 and 9, take cannabis …Drug research Coordinator

Mariama Kandeh 31/1/2007

Research coordinator of the research on assessment of the trends and patterns of drug abuse and drug-related HIV/AIDS situations in communities and prisons, Alex Gamor Monday disclosed that boys between the ages of 7 to 9 take cannabis sativa.He disclosed while revealing the key findings of the research at the Miatta Conference Center , Brookfields, Freetown .

The research was conducted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNDC) in collaboration with the National Drugs Control Program (NDCP).“The research states that there are 18 HIV positive inmates in the prisons of Freetown , Bo and Makeni.”

Executive Director of NDCP, Alhaji Kande Bangura said that drug abuse is linked to the political development of the country including the war.He said the research was aimed at proving an assumption that 95% of ex-combatants were still using drugs.“The research provides information on the relationship between HIV/AIDS and drug abuse”, he mentioned.

4, 954 admit taking drugs

Mariama Kandeh 25/1/2007

4,954 Sierra Leoneans have admitted taking drugs, according to a survey conducted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) and the National Drugs Control Agency (NDCA). The topic of the research was: ‘Assessment of the Trends and Patterns of Drug Abuse and Drug Related HIV/AIDS Situation in the Communities and Prisons of Sierra Leone.'

76.5% males admitted taking drugs whiles 23.5% female confessed to the act.The report also revealed the drug use was higher because one addict uses more than one drug.

“2,416 divulged taking cannabis, among these 1,906 are men and 510 are women,” the report disclosed, adding that most of the drug consumers are youth within the ages of 19-35 years.

“848 admitted taking cocaine in which 656 are men and 192 are women. The third largest consumption is heroine with 799 people admitted taking it. Amongst these 586 are men and 213 are women,” the report states.

The survey disclosed that other drugs consumed by youths include amphetamines, blue boats, inhalants and morphine. The research further revealed that cannabis has the highest consumption because it is locally grown. In Daru, the study revealed that more women are taking amphetamine than men.

The survey indicated that the reasons for drug use in the country include poverty, illiteracy, the war, lack of care and supervision, inadequate anti drug campaign, government's insensitivity to the drug situation and lack of effective counseling groups and drug treatment centers.

Malnourished children to get relief

Regina Pratt 16/1/2007

A team from the United States is currently in Sierra Leone to salvage the plight of malnourished children in the country. They are currently working at Taiama in Moyamba district and Serabu in Bo district on a child survival programme and eye treatment project.

Introducing the team to journalists on Friday at the ministry of health and sanitation, Mr. Pieh said they were also concerned about agriculture, youth and sports programmes. Health and Sanitation Minister, Abator Thomas expressed hope that the project, especially the child survival programme, would continue.

Elyse Bell said the food was for children aged between six months to five years, adding that the programme would be implemented nationwide. She said it was programmed for mothers to take home, and would last for months without losing its value. Elyse said the food was donated free by the United Nations children's fund, UNICEF.

Dr. Joseph Geary, another member from the Southern Eye Institution said his organization was involved in a variety of projects including agriculture in Taiama. Another member of the team, Dr. Schanzar said they had operated on some 6,000 patients with eye problem in Sierra Leone last year alone.

“We have now started a new test, with the provision of Intra Circular Lens after the removal of the cataracts so that the patient can see far and near,” she disclosed; adding that the new test would prevent blindness due to cataract infection.

“Genetically Modified Crops failed farmers,” Friends of the Earth Coordinator

Ibrahim Tarawallie 11/1/2007

Friends of the Earth International Africa Coordinator, Nnimmo Bassey has said that Genetically Modified Crops (GM Crops) have failed to address the main challenges faced by farmers in most countries. He noted that more than 70% of large scale GM planting is still limited to two countries ( USA and Argentina ).

He said “no genetically modified crop on the market today offers benefits to the consumer in terms of quality or price, and to date these crops have done nothing to alleviate hunger or poverty in Africa or elsewhere.” He added that the great majority of GM crops cultivated today “are used as high-priced animal feed to supply rich nations with meat.”

He quoted the report as stating that GM crops commercialized today have on the whole increased rather than decreased pesticide use, and do not yield more than conventional varieties. The environment has not benefited, and GM crops will become increasingly unsustainable over the medium to long term .

WHO gets new boss

Ibrahim Seibure 5/1/2007

A statement from the World Health Organization (WHO) issued Thursday disclosed that Dr Margaret Chan, a Chinese national is now the new Director-General of the Agency following her election in November.Dr Chan on accepting the appointment pledged that her term of office and the effectiveness of WHO would be judged by the impact they have on two specific populations."I want my leadership to be judged by the impact of our work on the health of two populations: women and the people of Africa ," Dr Chan said. "WHO has a long history of commitment to those in greatest need, including the most vulnerable groups?"

She revealed that her six priority areas will focus on development for health, health security, building the capacity of health systems, developing better information and knowledge, enhancing partnerships and improving the performance of the Organization.Speaking to staff, Dr Chan said that the priorities she has emphasized during and since her election will not mean a major restructuring of WHO.Dr Chan told staff, "I will stick with my promise. Reform, yes. Upheaval, no."She took the opportunity to praise the work of Dr Anders Nordström, who has been acting Director-General since the sudden death of the former Director-General, Dr LEE Jong wook, in May, 2006.Dr Chan told staff, "I believe these are optimistic times for health. Never before has our work enjoyed such a high profile on the political agenda."

Dr Chan also noted down that one of the key challenges now facing WHO is to "manage all this vigorous interest in health that will ensure lasting improvements and do not overburden recipient countries.  … As the acknowledged leader in public health, we need to ensure that the growing number of health initiatives meets comprehensive health needs, in a coordinated way, in line with the priorities of countries and their populations."She also said that the period of transition would continue until the end of 2007, with a key statement on her vision for the Organization coming at the World Health Assembly in May.Dr Chan was appointed by the World Health Assembly in November 2006. Her term of office will run until 30 June 2012.

Over 10,000 Sierra Leoneans died in 2006

Ibrahim Tarawallie 4/1/2007

The Ministry of Health and Sanitation's annual report on Births and Deaths reveals that 10,059 deaths, 64,866 live births and 1,070 still births were recorded in 2006. The above figures were forwarded to the Ministry of Health by the office of Births and Deaths. These figures, according to the report represent only the events that were registered with the offices of Births and Death nationwide.

Acting Deputy Chief Registrar, Johnson Kargbo said they experienced an increase in both live and still births. However, fewer people died last year than in 2005, the figures indicate. The decrease in number of recorded deaths in 2006 is attributed to improving health facilities in the country. Kargbo revealed 5,759 as the difference between 2005 and 2006.

He stated that the data represent events registered in their offices in Freetown . “If we include the mass birth registration in Kailahun, Pujehun and Kenema districts the registered events would rise slightly above 277, 000.

Bo gets new hospital and a nursing college

Mohamed Massaquoi 20/12/2006

Bo will now boast of a modern hospital with state of the art equipment and a nursing school. The hospital has started operation in the district. This disclosure was made Tuesday at a press briefing organized by the doctor of the hospital. The occasion took place at China House, Freetown .

Dr. Anthony Kakpindi Soyei said the construction of the hospital and the college started three years ago. Dr. Soyei said the project was personally founded with support from his family and friends from Italy who ensured that the project come to completion.

“The Holy Mary hospital in Bo comprises 150 bed rooms, an administrative block consisting of outpatient pharmacy, laboratory and other facilities which can accommodate 80 patients,” he said, adding that they embarked on the venture to ensure that people have access to good medical facility at a very reasonable cost. He said even though they have spent a lot of money to construct the hospital their services are reasonable.

“People are going through a lot of difficulties to get money. The whole aspect is based of service delivery,' he said. “The college can accommodate 150 students and it is well equipped with modern learning materials,” he concludes.

Marie Stopes, Unicef train mothers on breast-feeding

Ibrahim Seibure 30/10/2006

Marie Stopes-Sierra Leone in collaboration with the United Nations Children's Emergency Fund (Unicef) Saturday held a one-day training for mothers on breast feeding at the Marie Stopes clinic, Ahmed Drive , off Aberdeen Road in Freetown .Chairman of the programme, Harold Thomas stated that breast-feeding is the best food for child survival and appealed to mothers present to teach others about what they have been taught.He also stated that with breast-feeding Sierra Leone would be able to reduce child mortality rate as breast milk improves on anti-bodies to fight against diseases.Prgramme Director of Marie Stopes-Sierra Leone, Dr. Yvonne Harding explained that breast-feeding is very important for child survival and that mothers should know how and when to breast-feed a child to enhance better growth.She revealed that breast milk has improved nutrients that protect the child from illness and help the child's development.Dr Albertine Harvey, in her lecture, disclosed that breast milk is a best food for a child from 0-6 month as it is not sold and cannot be bought anywhere.She noted that it is very important for a mother to start breast-feeding her child immediately after birth as the attempt will instill in the mind of the child the appetite for breast milk and also would help the womb of the mother return to its normal position.“The more the mother brings her child closer to the breast after birth the more milk she gets. Breast-feeding also help the child resist diarrhea, as it is free from germs while it also helps develop the brain of the child. It is always available and it creates good relationship, love and recognition between the child and the mother,” she stated.She also noted that mothers can only be advised to seize from breast feeding the child when the mother is proven to have sicknesses like HIV/AIDS, cancer, psychological upset after birth, Tuberculosis and abscess with tuff.Dr Harvey cautioned that a child can only be stopped from breast feeding when the it has cleft palate or is seriously sick, born at pre-mature stage or has blockage in the intestine caused by other bio-chemical problems.She further called on mothers to desist from giving water to children as an alternative for breast milk and told mothers that when breast feeding their children they should be in comfortable places, place the child well in the ankle, make sure that the mouth of the child is widely open and give the child support to make it comfortable.Marie Stopes-Sierra Leone Clinical Services Manager, Sister Monica Green noted that the training is a historical moment for all mothers, as they have demonstrated a concern of commitment.She commended Unicef for its support and collaborative efforts to make the programme a success story.“This programme is designed to improve child survival and also to enhance the child's development,” Sister Green stated and implored participating mothers to continue their visits to Marie Stopes for advice and care.

Le 100 Million bail for alleged cocaine smuggler

James Fallah 21/9/2006

Magistrate Bankole Shyllon of Court No.1 Tuesday granted bail in the sum of Le 100,000 (one hundred million Leones) to Stella Abibi Oyelola, a Nigerian for allegedly attempting to smuggle cocaine out of Sierra Leone in August.Lead counsel for the accused, J. B. Jenkins - Johnston applied that the matter be made stalled until the Supreme Court sits on it, as the necessary papers are now before it and that they are awaiting a date for the matter to be called up.However, counsel for the Inspector General of Police (IG) C.J. Peacock objected to the application.Magistrate Shyllon in response granted the proceedings to continue.Two prosecution witnesses, Mary Lansana and Jonathan Daniel Lasayo, both aviation officers, gave their testimonies in respect of their role in apprehending the accused. When asked by defense counsel, C. J. Peacock in their individual testimonies, if they will recognize the exhibits if shown in court, they replied in affirmative.However counsel for the I.G informed Magistrate Shyllon that they are unable to produce the exhibits in court as it is still with the previous court that dealt with the matter, though he noted it's ought to be in the hands of the prosecutor.Meanwhile J. B. Jenkins- Johnston reapplied for bail to be granted the accused, stating that the accused has been within the jurisdiction of Sierra Leone for over a month now and that her passport is still with the police for a crime she has already paid 10 Million Leones which has neither been given back by the judge nor the state.

Bail was then granted in the sum of Le 100,000,000 and two sureties each in the sum of fifty million Leones and to be approved by the Master and Registrar.The matter is adjourned to the 25 th September.

Health Minister wants massive HIV/AIDS test

Michael Bockarie 13/9/2006

Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Ibrahim Sesay Friday called for a massive turn out of the public for HIV/AIDS test free of cost.The Minster made the statement during the closing ceremony of the Sierra Leone Adult Education Association (SLADE) HIV/AIDS Awareness Training Programme held at 57 John Street , Freetown .He said it is good for the people to know their HIV/AIDS status adding that HIV/AIDS is a concern to mankind.“In the past most people thought that HIV/AIDS was just the business of the Health Ministry,” he said.He encouraged participants to disseminate the information and knowledge they have acquired during the training.SLADE President, Dr. Joe Alie said educating people on HIV/AIDS is very important.Dr. Alie, who also doubles as Dean of the Faculty of Arts Fourah Bay College, said education is a life long process.He advised participants not to have sex without condom.Chairman of the programme, Bamike Williams told participants to live an exemplary life, as they should not be telling people to use condoms when they do not use them.The programme brought together participants from SLADE's 13 branches nationwide.

Miss University donates to underprivilege

Michael Bockarie 25/8/2006

As one of the first charity functions, the newly crowned Miss University , Kadija Kebay on Thursday donated assorted food items and educational materials to Help a Needy Children Needy Children organizations (HANCI), at 40E Bypass Road Kissy. The food items include three bags of rice, five gallons of palm Oil, biscuits and carton soap amongst others. The educational materials were school bags kits, uniforms, books.

Handing over the items, Miss Kebay said the initiative was part of her promise made when she became Miss University . “I promised the general public at Family Kingdom , that I would carry out humanitarian work such as helping needy children” “Today I am here to fulfil parts of the promised” she said. The beauty queen noted that children deserve love, and caring, adding that they are the future leaders. She continued “this is one of the series of charity gestures both locally and internationally that I have designed for my one year of reign.” She also stressed that with the help of Concord Times Communications and foreign partner Chez Winnakabs Europe, she will be embarking on a charity campaign early September in the UK to raise funds for ‘Pikin Bizness', the organization dealing with children living with holes in the heart.She encouraged Sierra Leone Government and Non-governmental Organizations to empower her in helping the children. She told Concord Times that she has no sponsors for now. She said the donations are purely from her personal pockets. She also encouraged individual Sierra Leoneans to emulate her good example. She said she loves working for Children and promised to continue the good work.

HANCI Operations Director Emanuel M. Kargbo in giving the overview of his organizations started operation in Makeni, they moved to Bo, Kamakuwe and later to many other places in Sierra Leone . Kargbo said they have more than one thousand children to take care of, adding that they have no international support to help the children. He said their main aim is to take care of underprivileged children who mostly suffered during the course the war. He said they Teneh Cole and Keity Sillah undergone operations abroad both of whom had bullets in their bodies, adding that there is a free medical fertility currently in Makeni. He further stated that they also rehabilitated young girls that were victims of war, rape or assault. Karbgo noted that the future of every country lies with the children, adding that if children are groomed in a good manner , they will be good citizen's in society for tomorrow.

(HANCI) Deputy Operations director, Sia Mbayo in her introduction message described Miss University as an Ambassador of beauty and charity. She said Miss Kebay is the most beautiful lady in all Universities in Sierra Leone for 2006. Miss University is a first year student at the Institute for Public Administrations and management (IPAM), reading Chartered accounting. (HANCI) Regional Coordinator, Peter Brima who chaired the ceremony said their organization provides Vocational Training Center for young boys and girls. This he said will make them gain jobs and hence self-reliance. He encouraged parents to send their children for such training.One of the beneficiaries thanked Miss University for her king gesture. “I want to thank Miss Kadija Kebay for her humanitarian's assistance to us” “She has helped us with Uniforms, schools bags, and food items. They sang joyously. In both Muslim and Christian, Prayers were offered at the beginning of the ceremony. Praise and worships followed afterwards.

Revealed: Guma water crisis was natural

Tanu Jalloh 10/8/2006

A conducted tour by a battery of journalists on facilities of Guma Valley Water Company, including the dam and treatment sites, Wednesday revealed the water crisis that hit Freetown in June was natural. Senior technical Assistant attached to the dam, Joselyn Williams disclosed, “The rains were supposed to have begun in May according to the seasons in the country but this year's rains started late, precisely by the 15 th of July 2006, which affected supply and resulted in the crisis we had”.

“Built in 1961 and commissioned in 1967, the 62 meter high and 56.2 billion capacity engineering structure of the Guma dam could not be altered for expansion. Overflowing water could therefore not be utilized unless a separate dam is constructed which would need huge funding,” Williams said adding that as at today the water level stands at 527.5 ft above sea level. Public Relations Officer, Joseph Musa told journalists that with the rains the situation at the dam has improved greatly over the past two months.

“For three consecutive years, August 2004 to 2006, water levels at the dam stood at 828.54ft, 841.99ft and 825.46ft respectively. The current level at the lake as at Monday was 50% full slightly above the third strata of six. 2006 water level in the lake is 3.08ft below that of 2004 and 16.5ft below level that of 2005 and an extra 36.52ft of water in the reservoir is required for dam to be built,” he said.

Emergency Hosiptal nurses go on strike

Mariama Kandeh 9/8/2006

Nurses and other national staffs at the emergency surgical center at Goderich Tuesday protested against their adaminstartion for what they described as ‘humiliation' by the hospital's administration.Some of the placards at the protest read : ‘international nurses are waste to donors,' ‘no to administration's blunder,' ‘nurses should not be humiliated,' ‘nurses deserve human dignity,' ‘thief, thief accountant,' ‘a rapist, leave our breasts and pants.'Christiana Kallon, anaesthetician and head of the workers says they are being treated as low class animals while their Cordinator is supporting the action.

‘The industrail action was actually prompted after our Cordinator on Monday ordered every staff of the hospital must be searched before entering the hospital. They search our breasts and pants,' Kallon claims, alleging further that some of the administrative staff ask them to leave the work if they refuse to be searched.‘The humiliation is too much. Our breasts are not gallons to load fuel,'  she prostested and pointed out that they deserved an apology from their Accountant, Ira Johnson and the Assisitant Coronidator Marthew for pioneering such an act.‘International staffs have no respect for us. Our culture does not permit abusive languages but these international staffs are guilty of using abusive words on us. We are women and must be respected,' she cried out while calling on the Anti Corruption Commission to curb courruption at the hospital.

Merja Heitto, Medical Cordinator said the issue of searching is not strange to the medical profession, as search is meant to protect the hospital's properties from being stolen. The Medical Cordinator claimed stealing in the hospital is alrmaing.Marthew, Assistant Cordinator apologised to the prostors that the decision to search them was taken by the international staffs because of the rampant stealing of medicines in the hospital.Close to 200 paintients are admintted at the hospital.

The Story of Zogie:Five year Old Boy returns to Freetown with Repaired Heart

By David Amplefield.PARIS 9/8/2006

Only 33 days after leaving Freetown , the chronically ill five-year old Ehizogie “Zogie” Ighobor, who has suffered from severe pulmonary stenosis of the heart value since birth, has successfully returned to Sierra Leone with a new lease on life.

Miracles consist of 80% hard work and 20% luck. Today, Sierra Leone can boast of its second miracle this year, as little Zogie Ighobor successfully received emergency open-heart surgery in Paris 's ultra-modern Pompidou European Hospital and then recovered in record time at the Chateau de la Cote cardiaque hospice for children in the French countryside not far from Versailles .Early on Sunday morning I drove the spirited boy and his jubilant although exhauste mother, Yema Ganda, to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris and placed Zogie and Yema onto a crowded SN Brussels flight to Belgium , where they were met by Pikin Bizness founder Adonis Abboud, who continues and continued on to the Sierra Leonean capital.Zogie has become the lastest success story for Pikin Bizness and its Paris and Boston-based partner AnglophoneMedia. Essentially, Abboud and I are running our own underground railroad for critically ill children. We have helped save two lives in this way; we have a list of 150 Sierra Leonean children and we are determined to save them all. In Paris , the medical logistics were provided by a remarkably compassionate former nurse Daninelle DeMoly of La Chaine de l'Espoir organization, directed by legendary hear doctor Dr. Alain Deloche, who had been contacted on our behalf by cardiologist, Kamel Abdennbi. The heart surgeon Dr. Chauvaud and his team at the Pompidou Hospital provided the operation based on the diagnosis of Professor Daniel Sidi and his team at Necker Hospital for children.

Following the dramatic recovery of 6 year old Abubakarr Jalloh, whose hole-in-the-heart condition was repaired in Paris's Hospital Necker by professor Leca and her Mecenat Cardioloque, Zogie's mother Yema Ganda, a journalist at the UN Special Court in Freetown, contacted Adonis Abboud and emailed myself in hope of finding a miracle for her frail son, who weighed 15 kilos and whose life has been in peril since he passed out as an infant of only several weeks. It took six months to orgnaise Zogie's medical sejour to France .Admittedly, the story has a happy ending, but rather tragic sub-plot. Zogie's life has been saved, but the country continues to suffer from a severe lack of equipment and trained professionals. There is a dramatic need for more cardiologists in Sierra Leone , and there is not even one cardio sonagram machine in the capital, a sophisticated but commonplace tool needed for all accurate diagnosis. The sonagram is the backbone of not only heart and vascular cases, and critically necessary in detecting problems in pregnancy, Freetown 's sole cardiologist, German-trained Dr. Olu Black was able to evaluate Zogie's condition due to his long and valuable expertise.AnglophoneMedia plan to ask President Kabbah to invite Professor Sidi and Ms. DeMoly to Freetown to set up a diagnostic clinic to examine the children who await cardiaque treatment.Little Zogie suffered from an acute stenosis of the pulmonary value which had closed down to the size of a pinhole, although no one in West Africa had been able to affirm whether open heart surgery was needed.

Zogie's parents, Kingsley Ighobor, owner of the Concord Newspaper, and Ms. Ganda have spent a horrificfive years lugging their weak son to Banjul , Dakar , Abuja , and finally Accra in search of help, the only medical specialist who confirmed the urgency of the operation was Dr. Desmond Olu-Black. Now, only a month and five days after undergoing open heart surgery five year old Ehizogie Ighobor, is a new boy with a promising future. Both of his parents have expressed great gratitude to everyone involved in the process of saving Zogie, and are committed to helping us save more children and obtain the much needed sonagram machine.Providing heart surgery in Europe is a costly procedure, and the budget for Zogie's intervention which mounted to around 10,000 euros was by pieced together with contributions from Abboud's Pikin Bizness, AnglophoneMedia, La Chaine de I'Epoir, Dr. Sidi's team, and Zogie's parents.

Zogie's father recalled by email that be wept when he heard his son's voice after the operation, when he called me “papa”, I wept. I wept because I realized he has just been rescued from the grip of death and we can now, as parents, plan and plot his future – not rushing to the next hospital. For the first time since his birth, we can really rest assured that he's got a future.

Mr. Abboud and myself wish to help extend that future to as many of Sierra Leone 's children as possible.

David Amplefield, representative of the FINANCIAL TIMES for Sierra Leone , is an American media specialist based Paris .david@paris-anglo.com

Diarrhea kills 29% Under-Five children

United Nations Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Project Coordinator, George Saquee Wednesday raveled that 29% of all Under Five deaths in Sierra Leone are caused by Diarrhea. He made this statement at a United Nations Media Club Development Forum themed: “the root causes of the recent water shortage in Freetown .”

The ceremony took place at the Kimbima Hotel, Freetown . “Diarrhea is one of the major killer diseases of children in the country today,” he said, adding that the disease is water borne. He said safe water covers 86% of Freetown 's population. Speaking on situation responses, Saquee mentioned that latrines must be located at least 100 feet away from water sources but some residents in Freetown are not adhering to the advice because of the population in the city. He says over 70% of the human body is made up of water and the public must be careful when using rainwater, as it can be the purest if collected properly.

Deforestation: is it intentional?

James Fallah 17/7/2006

If you are to take a careful look at our beautiful range of hills overlooking our city that were once green and natural, you will undoubtedly come to terms with the fact that the rate at which we are loosing our forests to deforestation has definitely reached, if not even more than, an alarming rate.Let's try to explore some of the factors that might have been responsible for the shortage and coloration of man's most valuable and life supporting resource, water. It is believed deforestation has been paramount amongst the factors responsible for such environmental degradation which eventually affects the resource base of water system.If assertions about deforestation, as mentioned above are correct, then I am tempted to ask whether we are so insensitive to have deforested our beloved country, deliberately though, and have taking lesser regards to whatever repercussions that might follow. It is indeed true that some people are with the paucity of belief that we survive because of plants around us as they give out the oxygen that we breathe. The reverse makes it a cycle and a relationship too. We give out carbon dioxide that plants take in and it revolves like that for life on earth.

It is understandable also that there are situations wherein it is necessary to hew a tree for the safety and convenience of community dwellers but I'll suggest that if a proper planning is taken within our local settings we would not allow a tree to grow so big near our dwelling houses to the extent of posing a threat on our lives. Nobody says one should not plant a tree nearby one's house, but we should not allow it grow so enormous that one can't afford to trim it.

Proper planning, it would seem, has been our major weakness and there is a saying which holds: “If you fail to plan then you're planning to fail. As Sierra Leoneans, are we ready to fail? No! I just hope so. Therefore, if we have been turning blind eyes to the dangers of deforestation it's high time we took very seriously, the message of the Minister of Lands, Housing, Country Planning and the Environment, Dr. Bobson Sesay. He once said and encouraged us to be planting trees.Most people I believe are becoming frustrated over the low rainfalls in Freetown while those in the provinces are enjoying the abundance of it. It would rain to water their plantations, but that should not baffle us because massive rainfalls are due to forestation. We have been embarking on the cutting down of trees to make homes for the ever growing number of people in the city and so we could not get rains in abundance. Now that deforestation problems are imminent and the shortage of rainfall has affected the supply of Guma Valley pipe borne water, I would advise that we engage ourselves in an intensive campaign of planting trees. Let's teach our children the values of trees and their benefits to mankind.The latter is more important because our children will be taking after us and if we set the pace now then they will be in the better position to reverse this ugly situation. We have forgetfully, or in a more concrete term, deliberately caused ourselves the problem of deforestation.The ministry on the other hand, if I may suggest, should impose a more punitive measure if at all the existing ones are a bit lenient against defaulters. This is because it has now become apparent that deforestation is tantamount to slow killing. It is perceived, though, that some people, if not most, are adamant in adhering to the realities of life. Such people, if I were to decide, should be treated heavy-handedly.Sierra Leoneans, it's high time we changed our attitudes towards ourselves and our country for it's only then we will enjoy the fullest of the riches we were blessed with. This is a responsibility for one and all.

ActionAid challenges water privatisation

Abdul Karim Koroma 13/7/2006

ActionAid's Policy, Research and Advocacy Manager, Thomas Johnny Monday said his organization is challenging the idea of privatising water because the process would exclude the poor from getting water, which is a gross violation of human rights.

“Water is a human right. We are thinking about those who are poor how they an afford it,” he said and continued, “ the whole process of water privatization is covered up and not in the public domain, but the issue should not be left entirely in the hands of the National Commission for Privatization, World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the government. The people should have a say on how Guma Valley Water Company (GVWC) can be made more viable in order that water is accessible.”

Johnny's statement came after GVWC announced a fortnight ago that Freetown is currently facing water crisis and the company is now rationing water. He argued that 70% of Sierra Leone 's population is poor and impoverished and selling water would make people continue to live in abject poverty.

“Privatization was a condition put to the National Provisional Ruling Council (NPRC) of retired Captain Valentine Strasser by the World Bank and IMF as a way of stabilizing the economy since some state owned parastatals are not profitable,” the ActionAid Policy and Research and Advocacy Manager recalled. Johnny says they want to know the evidence base of IMF and World Bank why water should be privatized.

“If it is from the people or the donors. We want the people to make decisions about their future. With all this we know the access base of water is a problem,” he said and added that they are conducting a base line survey or situational analysis of the present water service provision and the objective of the study is to gather public opinion how water should be provided.

He states that ActionAid is coordinating the activities of the Public Enterprise Monitoring Group, which is a policy-oriented group that is seeking to ensure that all policies should be in the interest of the people.

Guma dismisses alleged water deal

James Fallah 12/7/2006

Public Relations Officer (PRO) at the Guma Valley Water Company (GVWC), Joseph Musa Tuesday dismissed allegations that his company sells water to the rich.“The allegation is a baseless rumor. It seems this country is becoming a breeding ground for rumormongers. There has never been such a transaction not one that I am aware of,” he assures and adds: “I have on several occasions taken my time to explain at length the issue of this water crisis on radio and to journalists. We are doing our best. Can't you see now the water crisis is slowly subsiding?”Recent reports indicate water supplied by the company is becoming cleaner and somehow available to the general public. This has directly effected the prices of plastic ‘pure water' that has skyrocketed the past two weeks.

However, residents in the eastern part of Freetown - Kissy, Wellington and Calaba Town - continue to complain about the harshness of the water crisis which existed before the recent collapse in the system in the city.Fatmata Mansaray who trades in pure water says: “I thank God that the problem is getting better. The water is fairly clean now. Before we used to do a lot of sieving before we could use it for domestic purposes.”Musu Bangura, also a businesswoman admits the water is now clean but at Brookfields where she stays, taps are not running like they used to.“If taps run for four hours they would seize running for 48 hours or more which leaves our children roaming the streets in search of running water,” she explains.Meanwhile another citizen who declined to be named is still pessimistic. He says the crisis is yet to hit again, “There is a clandestine deal going on with our water company. Neighboring countries through regular shipments obtain water from the Guma that is why people would always resort to importing bottled pure water.”

Director warns false positive results on HIV/AIDS kills

Acting Director of the National AIDS Secretariat (NAS), Dr. Brima Kargbo Tuesday encouraged a set of nine graduating military officers trained in Voluntary Confidential Counseling and Testing (VCCT) against false positive results which he says kills.He made the appeal during the certification ceremony following a twelve-week, US Department of Defense HIV/AIDS Prevention Program (DHAPP) funded training course for lab technicians at the Abrasy Health and Fitness Centre, Wilberforce.“A single case of false positive result after counseling and testing somebody living with HIV/AIDS is more than killing him or her. In fact the 4.9 prevalence rates in 2002 was as a result of false positive results. I therefore want to emphasize the need for informed consent and confidentiality as provided for in the HIV/AIDS policy and principle of universal prevention,” he says.UNAIDS Country Director, Dr. Leopold Zekeng says about a year ago the G8 countries came together to intensify the fight against the pandemic because less than ten percent infected persons know their status and hence could not use the antiretroviral drugs.“Given that obstacle the 180 million target for testing each year may not be achieved,” he observes adding that government already has 19 voluntary testing and counseling centres with the help of the United States Government and hopes to get more centres.Course Director of Ramsey Medical Laboratories Ltd. Dr. Mrs. Alpha Wurie says her lab provides Analytical Chemistry, Micro Chemical Biology, Sales and Research in Bio Medical Science and also does proficiency testing.“The course overall for the military officers covers all theoretical and practical aspect of HIV/AIDS delivered by internationally trained senior technicians who lay emphases on the concept and the principle of the activity. Other areas include complex techniques in lab management.Guest of honor, Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy, James Stewart presented the certificates to the graduates. Senior Military personnel also made statements, among them were Col. J Samba, RSLAF HIV/AIDS Coordinator and Brig. Nelson Williams, Deputy Chief of Defense Staff.

WATER, WATER, WATER, NOT A DROP FOR THE PEOPLE OF SIERRA LEONE?

Charles Bamikole Carr, LLB (Hons) Law, LLM in Business Law, Lecturer in Law, University of Westminster, England. 10/7/2006

There is water, water, water, everywhere in Sierra Leone but currently none for the people of Sierra Leone to use. As I consider the current water situation in our blessed home country, where the nation is now strenuously lacking of water supply to carry out mainly their domestics such as washing, cooking, cleaning and drinking and so have to make use of contaminated and un-purified water, I keep sighing gruntingly and confusingly to myself. This is because I am sensing that the current water situation could be so bad that the outcome will be death, death, death everywhere in the country.The water problem now in Sierra Leone, if allowed to continue will look like a plague on our nation as they attempt to make do with the polluted water, but this may not be a plague but a man made disaster upon our nation.I have been discussing the water situation in our country with close friends and family at home and abroad and we are all dumb founded. We are mouth-filled with shock as we all agreed that the water situation would be a punishment of death on our nation.We, Sierra Leoneans just like other nationals, all do know, by tradition or by science, that in coming to this world we need water and even going out from this world we need water. In other words, we all know the importance of water to the living as well as to those about to die.Consequently, if the people of Sierra Leone cannot be supplied with clean and purified water are they not being let in to a deadly sanitary situation which will spread disease upon disease on both the young and old a like? In such a problematic situation, who will be left to care for each other when the young and old, the medics and patients, the strong and weak find themselves in a sickly appearance?

Is it not time that our government, in this sense, all the main political Party Groups in unison, should act and act faster to prioritize the solution to the current water situation before it gets out of hands? Applying a faster solution to the problem can bring back water, water, water, everywhere for the citizens to carry out their daily domestics.We have had the same bad situation crept in to our electricity in Sierra Leone and that has left the supply of electricity almost out-rightly being withdrawn from the nation for the past twenty years. The country has been left in darkness because of lack of constant electricity and it is not getting any better. Instead, the Haves have turned to using generators to produce their own energy supply, but even that has not helped because we have been seeing the effects, as at sometimes some people's houses have been destroyed by fire caused as a result of sparkling fumes from the stocking of petroleum used to function their generators.What is wrong with us in Sierra Leone that we cannot maintain our essential utilities, instead we keep destroying them to the detriment of the nation? These destructions of our utilities and infrastructural mechanisms throughout the country are taking the nation backwards. The backwardness could even be seen as going way back beyond ‘Tangase' Times.The Guma valley water dam, which was built in the sixties and several other smaller dams like the Regent and Mamba Ridge being built throughout the country, in addition, have not been maintained to modern standards.As I write, I, like many other Sierra Leoneans, are fully aware that our country is situated in a geographical area that has plenty of water beneath its earth surface but no research and development works have been or are being carried out to improve the supply of water in our country.

Despite Sierra Leone is geographically positioned in a region where water can be drilled from tens of kilometres below the ground, our government (successive government) have not been budgeting for geological engineers to put into use their skills to benefit the nation in making available sufficient clean, pure and healthy water. Instead, some citizens are now using the water crisis to make money and continue with corruption. Some citizens are selling all kinds of water at exorbitant prices without reflecting as to whether their waters on sale are fit for the purpose.It is even being rumoured that some of the Guma Valley workers are using the Department's mobile water tankers to sell water illegally to those citizens who can afford to buy their water at about Le120,000 (One Hundred and Twenty Thousand Leones) in a tanker. This is an amount beyond the means of most of the citizens. Therefore, the government must not allow this illegal sale of water to go on. This is corruption at first hand and it is unfair to the nation.The effect of money making is even evident on most of the utilities departments, like the water and electricity departments. They are more concerned with collecting revenues from the consumers, but without even considering methods of improvement to the quality of services on offer to their consumers. In such circumstance, the departments are failing to consider that the bad nature of their services will result to the collapse of the departments. Thus, their departments will be left in situations where they may be unable to collect more revenue, especially as the services will cease functioning to the consumers, who, regardless of the law will stop paying bills for such bad services.

The people of Sierra Leone must be aware that even if we are given international aid to rebuild the systems of utilities and infrastructures, we still will not run the services effectively if we cannot carrying on regular maintenance. Instead, whatever sophisticated standards the systems may be built to class, they will later on collapse for lack of regular maintenance.Now, let us say it loud that we, the people of Sierra Leone may continue to cope without the electricity light in our country, but, oh God, we will not be able to cope without water supply.Even if this current water situation is a wake up call for the people of Sierra Leone that they are to constantly be paying for the water supply, as long as the water service is constant and in a pure and healthy quality, I'm sure the citizens will not be mindful to pay so that they will keep having sufficient water at their convenience.Let us remember, both the citizens and our politicians, that in this current water situation, it is not only the poor who will be affected but also all classes of the citizens. There will be waterborne diseases spreading all around the country and that will lead, definitely, to mass death. Even those citizens who may be lucky not to be strongly affected with the immediate impacts of the waterborne diseases, will be heart broken of the frequent death toll around them. This will not be good for our brothers and sisters.

As I write, I can vision many Sierra Leoneans wherever they are throughout the world joining me in asking our government to be merciful on our people, that is, to do all that they can to bring the water situation in our blessed country to normal. If the people of Sierra Leone cannot be supplied with electricity, let them be supplied with clean, healthy and pure water regularly.Let the government act quickly and faster and consider the effect of the water situation and remove this blemish on our nation. Let us remember that the citizens in our blessed country have been used to having good water supply. Let us don't take good water supply away from them. This will be heart breaking and the results will be terminal sickness and death.

Apart from climate change what else?

Dr. Sama Banya, honorary President conservation society Sierra Leone 6/7/2006

About two weeks ago the BBC reported that the Government of Niger had requested its citizens for Prayer and fasting so that it would rain. The Country has had three successive years of drought and the situation was getting desperate. Could anyone in Sierra Leone imagine three whole years without a drop of rain? But it is almost commonplace in parts of East and Southern Africa . When it comes to God's bounty we in Sierra Leone are generously blessed; abundant rainfall, lots of rivers running from the North and emptying into the Atlantic ocean in the South and West, plenty of sunshine, fertile soil and vegetation etc, etc. I am writing about the Sierra Leone that used to be 80 percent covered with forests and high vegetation.

Alas, the picture is very different today. Because of the reckless manner in which some developed Countries are misusing the Earth's natural resources and polluting the atmosphere with greenhouse gases the world is not experiencing what is commonly referred to as Climate Change. In our own lifetime and right before our eyes, the weather pattern has changed. Here we are in July; by now we should be in the second month of the wettest quarter of the year. For a Country that used to have an annual rainfall of 150 inches, I doubt if the Meteorological office recorded up to 2 inches of rain in June here in Freetown . I wonder too whether we shall have such scenes like Samba Gutter and Bobor Combor, which were an annual phenomenon in the past.

While we may have no control over the way the industrialized Countries are causing climate change leading to Global Warming, we can minimize the effect of those changes by the way we treat our local environment. In recent years, especially since the end of the rebel war, there has been an unprecedented onslaught on the Western Area Peninsular Forests. These forests have a profound influence on both the rainfall and more importantly, on the source of Freetown 's main water supply, the Guma Dam. These forests form the CATCHMENT AREA of the dam as well as its watershed. They prevent the raindrops from running straight into the Atlantic Ocean , taking all the topsoil with it. On the contrary, because of the “breaking” effect of the forest trees, the force of the raindrops is considerably reduced so that the water sips slowly into the ground supplying areas like the Guma and Babadori Dams. By the same token when people scrape all the grass within and round their homes in order to beautify them so that they look attractive, they cause the topsoil to be washed away by rainwater. It is a also by the same token that the top soil is washed down from the hills overlooking Freetown, causing soil erosion as they bring with them debris and rocks which also block our drainages. We are all familiar with the flooded streets along areas like Krootown road, the Calaba Town area and other places.

We have given repeated warnings in the press and in the air about the destructive effect of our actions on our environment but they would appear to fall on deaf ears. And now that nemesis has descended upon us in the form of empty Guma and Babadori dams, exacerbating a water problem which itself is caused by the extension of human settlements into virgin areas. And here we are baying for Guma Valley Water Company's blood. How long must we continue pointing fingers at others without taking notice of the three fingers pointing back at us? It is amazing that in the midst of the present water crisis there is abundant rainfall in the provinces.

Perhaps its now time to stop putting blame on the Guma Valley Water Company and take a serious look at the way we are abusing the environment in this city. Some people have suggested following the Niger example and calling for National Day of Prayer, but here in Sierra Leone we must ask ourselves why we continue to be so indifferent to our own interest.

Jealousy: Mother dumps 8-month-old baby into river

Mohamed Vandi 6/7/2006

Eight-month-old Mariatu Koroma was found dead in the Ngoko River at Nagbema village, Kenema District Monday, Town Chief Sao Vandi intimated Concord Times. Isatu Turay, mother of the deceased child, has confessed dumping her child to the police because her husband, Abdul Koroma, married another woman and did not care any longer for her.The Town Chief lamented the corpse of the eight-month-old baby was found floating in the river by a lady who went to fetch water.He says, parents of the child, Isatu and her husband Abdul, reported about the missing child at about 5:00 AM Monday.“Without wasting time, we reported the matter at the Blama Police station,” Town Chief Vandi said.Police Constable Sahr Aruna at the Blama Police station when contacted told Concord Times detectives were dispatched to the scene of the dead corpse immediately they had the report. He asserted the corpse of the eight-month-old baby was retrieved from the river. The police constable revealed the mother of the child, Isatu, had claimed she dumped her child in the river because her husband had married another woman and no longer cared for her.Officer in Charge Blama police station, Glorai Macauley says the suspect, Isatu, has been handed over to the Kenema Police station while the corpse of the baby is at the Kenema Government hospital for post-mortem.Some residents of Nagbema village have described Isatu's act as “witch craft,” and requested that she should be banished from the village.

Pharmacy Board makes history

Abdul Karim Koroma 4/7/2006

After winning a generation of laurels, the Pharmacy Board made another landmark in the country last week Monday by commissioning the National Drug Safety Monitoring Programme (Pharmacovigilance) and destroyed Le 500 million worth of confiscated, substandard/fake and counterfeit drugs. The Minster of Health and Sanitation, Abator Thomas launched the National Drug Safety Monitoring Programme while the drugs were destroyed at the Medical Store Compound, New England .

This is the first time in the history of the country the Board with the innovation of the Registrar of the Pharmacy Board, Michael Jack Lansana was able to confiscate a large number of substandard/fake and counterfeit drugs. And above all a National Drug Safety Monitoring Programme has been put in place.

Jack Lansana says the events is a commitment to show that they are determined to ensure the continued protection of public health, as they would leave no stone unturned in order to guarantee that all medications in the country are of good quality, efficacious and safe for human use. “Over the past few months the Board had been increasingly concerned over the quality of medicines in Sierra Leone . According to Pharmacy Board statistics the rate of counterfeiting of medicinal products is on the increase,” he said.

Jack Lansana attributed the rampant smuggling of medicines into the country through illegal border crossings and maintained that the Board has been very vigilant in its inspection activities by conducting routine inspection exercises across the country. He says the drugs that were destroyed were withdrawn from pharmacies, drug stores and patent medicines shops in the private, public and NGO sectors.

Jack Lansana lamented that it is very worrisome that fellow Sierra Leoneans could go to the extent of providing counterfeit, substandard and expired products to their brothers and sisters in the interest of enriching themselves at the expense of the lives of others.

Health and Sanitation Minister, Abator Thomas explained that her Ministry has achieved remarkable success in making life saving medicines available, affordable and accessible to the public, as this has contributed significantly to the reduction of morbidity and mortality due to disease.

She expressed concern over the potential threat posed by substandard and fake drugs, as the Board already put in place mechanisms to combat the issue of fake and counterfeit medicines.

“There is an urgent need to put in place a system to monitor the safety of medicinal products in circulation. For this reason her majesty has actively supported the setting up of the Drug Safety Monitoring Programme (Pharmacovigilance),” she said.

Giving an overview of the Drug Safety Monitoring Programme, the Head of the Drug Information and Pharmacovigilance Department, Mr. Wilshire Johnson highlighted some of the problems connected to drug use and safety issues.

Johnson gave a summary of how the pharmacovigilance system was to operate in the country. He encouraged that all health practitioners including Doctors, Nurses, Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, Traditional healers etc, report all cases of suspected adverse drug reactions that occur as a result of drugs that were administered to their patients.

In addition, it is also the responsibility of the consumers/patient to report any reaction that they may experience from taking any drug product to their doctor. Alternatively, they could report directly to the Pharmacy Board by calling the Pharmacy Board hot line on 225983. Below is a list of all premises that were found to be engaged in the practice of importing and/or dispensing counterfeit, substandard, expired and illegally imported medicinal products.

CADA celebrate international Day against drug abuse

28/6/2006

Campaign Against Drug Abuse (CADA) today celebrate the International day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking with the global theme ‘Drugs are not Child's Play' to increase public awareness on the effects of drug abuse in post-war Sierra Leone.

Today, children of all ages are affected by drug abuse and illicit trafficking, and the most vulnerable are street children and boys and girls whose parents are trading in illicit drugs. School children are also at risk out of pressure to smoke cigarette and drink alcohol.

CADA is therefore calling on adults to protect children from abusing drugs. Parents and teachers has a urge responsibility in not only protecting child but also ensures that children have the right information to keep them off-drugs.

CADA is also calling on government institutions dealing with children to help protect them against drug abuse and illicit trafficking and try to develop drug legislation and implement existing ones. we are calling on other institutions, the media, Non-governmental organisations, community base organisation and religious groups to contribute towards protecting children against drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

‘'This day June 26, is a day to remind all of us to play our part in helping children and youths to understand that abusing drugs has an effect on them, their families and the society'' said CADA Coordinator, Alpha Bannie Jalloh.

IMMUNITY: THE MISUED PRIVILEGE

Oju Wilson 23/6/2006

Immunity has most often been interpreted by educated as well as laypersons to mean something quite contrary to what its simple and ordinary meaning implies. This confusion is so grave that even those who are supposed to benefit and enjoy from all the niceties attached to this syllable have been adding salt to injury by distorting the sacredness of this word. Immunity has been given to Heads of States, High Commissioners and members of the Diplomatic Corps, Judges and even Parliamentarians.

Why is it necessary to have immunity? Immunity basically is a show of respect to the offices of the Presidents, Diplomats in the execution of their diplomatic functions, Judges in the process of dispensing justice and parliamentarians in the execution of their legislative duties. Hence it guarantees the sanctity of all the aforementioned offices, though the power conferred on these institutions and individuals should not be misused, as there are limitations in the enjoyment of such safeguards.Immunity as stated inter alia has been accorded to various personalities and offices to effectively run their offices, but how reasonable have people been using this privilege without transgressing on the rights of others?Now and again, sitting heads of states have been doing things not in the interest of their subjects relying on immunity; parliamentarians have been committing heinous crimes invading the Justice System through parliamentary immunity.Diplomatic corps have not been excluded in this misuse of privilege, as they too have been reckless in their dealings with the ordinary man by overstretching the immunity bestowed upon them; even judicial officers have been relying on immunity to hide their dirty linens.Ironically, educated folks have accepted the status quo of these people whenever they act ultra vires their powers without having an iota of knowledge that immunity is not an absolute concept.

Presidential Immunity: As stated inter alia Immunity applies in different shades and form and the president of Sierra Leone enjoys such right conferred on him by virtue of Section 48(4) d Act No. 6 of the 1991 Constitution.“While any person holds or performs the functions of the office of the President no Civil or Criminal proceeding shall be instituted or continued against him in respect of anything done or omitted to be done, by him either in his official or private capacity”Applying the literal rule in interpretation indicates that the privilege is not an absolute one. It can be contested at the most appropriate time by the individual or group of individuals who have suffered in the hands of the president if he /she had acted in a despotic and oppressive manner while in office. The rationale for immunity is to show reverence to the office of the presidency, as it would be infra dignitatem for the President to be attending Court Sessions when he/she has important state functions to attend to.Interestingly, under international law, a sitting head of state enjoys no such immunity. Nothing would bar the International tribunal to execute a warrant if there is one to execute. That is why in 2003 Charles Taylor was indicted even though he was the substantive President of Liberia. The Special Court Statue like other regulating statues in other international courts precludes no one from its prosecutorial power.In the case of High Commissioner, Ambassadors and other diplomats they enjoy immunity within the Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges of Act No. 35 of 1961. Within this Act immunities are conferred on foreign envoys and Consular Officers including their family members and domestic staff members. However this privilege is not absolute within the statute as immunities conferred on these offices may be waived. Section 7 (1) gives the Chief representatives of a Commonwealth Country the power to waive any immunity conferred by this Act on himself or on a member of his official or domestic staff. Quite apart from subsection (2) of Section 7 gives power to other diplomatic officers to do same.

Parliament also enjoys immunity, and this privilege is conferred on it personnel. With parliament having multifarious functions to perform, the speaker, clerk and other members of parliament have immunity under section 100 of the constitution of 1991 from partaking in any judicial functions while they are on their way or returning from any proceedings of parliament. Section 101 of the 1991Constitution also gives them protection from witness summon, while sections 102 and 103 protect them against serving as a juryman and publication of proceedings respectively.

Immunity” the Misused privilege

However if there is a proof that such publication tendered in parliament was done maliciously or otherwise or in want of good faith then such a privilege will be lost.Judges while performing or exercising their judicial functions also enjoy such immunity. Section 120 (9) states that “A judge of the Superior Court of Judicature shall not be liable in any action or suit for any matter or they done by him in the performance of his judicial function”.Immunity from this subsection implies it is a privilege that should be used judiciously and not as cloak to protect corrupt Judges. Other provisions that confer immunity are wary about its reasonable use. There are precedences to show that immunity should not be misused as Slobovan Melosovic, Charles Taylor and General Augusto Pinochet had realized that immunity is a sacred syllable that should be used wisely.

SOS Children's Village holds symposium

Regina Pratt 22/6/2006

Save Our Souls (SOS) Children's Village as part of their annual celebration, Wednesday held a one-day symposium at the Village headquarters, Lumley. The theme for this year's celebration is “Child Abandonment and Family Strengthening”.

Village Director, Mrs. Leila Labour said the village started operations in 1949 and that their work focuses primarily around child-care. “SOS takes a clear position to address the root causes of why children continue loosing parental care,” she said adding that vulnerable children are their target group.

Labour said SOS has a wealth of experience in childcare, especially the upbringing of children considered or proven to be orphans. Vulnerable children have also gained immensely from the childcare center and the entire SOS families. The Village Director further reiterated that they would soon open a Resource Centre at Goderich, which will serve the community and its environs especially on child right related issues and child welfare promotion.

Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD) Regional Director, Aminata Ken Turay maintained that child abandonment is a serious human right abuse or violation and thus must be prevented if our children must grow up to be responsible leaders in the not too distant future.

She averred: “a child that is left alone either after birth, in a hospital ward, dustbin or the doorpost of a neighbour after been discharged from a hospital or any delivery point, has no security. He or she is exposed to all kinds of violence and crimes if left to grow up on the streets,” And continued, “Abandonment is an inhuman and degrading treatment as it makes the abandoned child feel unwanted, rejected, deprived and not useful to society.” She said Article 16 (3) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that the “family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by the society and state”.

Turay outlined and attributed some of these causes to inadequate and improper ante-natal care which results to unhealthy birth, incarceration of parents, civil unrest, lack of steady sources of income, teenage pregnancy in which the family sees it as embarrassment, secret societies and their effects. She said all these could lead to poor brain or mental fitness, cognitive, psychological and emotional development for children affected.

She said these are many challenges which include the lack of resources because huge resource bases are needed for the setting up of family home structure and legal mechanisms for the protection of children, accountability and transparent usage of resources already allocated for children initiative and care, lessons learnt from reported cases of abandoned children, maltreatment of these children by foster families have all created room for more street children.

The way forward for these children should involve increasing public financial support to families serving as guardians, increase support to foster care and enact and enforce laws that will prevent or minimize the level of abandonment and maltreatment by the foster families. Theresa Vamboi of the Ministry of Social Welfare Gender and Children's Affairs said children are abandoned due to broken family, poverty and unwanted pregnancies.

She said SOS Children's Village is the first institution that has succeeded in dealing with orphans, destitute and abandoned children in the country and should therefore be supported by instituting punitive measures against parents who abandon their children. Vamboi disclosed that there has been little or no provision or allocation in the 2006 budget for child protection campaigns and activities.

Voice of Children Communication Director, Pat Lewis stressed the need for government to set up the Safety Network as an alternative measure for these children. He gave a brief background of child abandonment, its causes, effects, challenges, interventions, and way forward.

NAFADO Chief links drug addiction to AIDS

Mohamed Massaquoi 22/6/2006

President of the National Federation of Anti Drug Organization (NAFADO), Alhaji Alim Awoko Sesey Tuesday said drug addiction has been linked to HIV/AIDS. He made the disclosure during the commemoration of the United Nations International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking at John F Kennedy Secondary School in Freetown . Awoko said drug abuse is a global phenomenon and it affects almost every community within the global family.

“The use of illicit drug among youths should now be a serious concern as most of the commonly used drugs are processed in their local domains. The most widely consumed drug is cannabis sativa which has become a serious concern to government and even parents,” he said and maintained that drug related problems increase crimes, violence and susceptibility to HIV/AIDS.

Awoko said young people who abuse drugs appear to be negatively influenced by many factors at home or in their learning institutions and as a result NAFADO has been in the process of submitting its input to a drafted bill, which will soon be presented in parliament. Giving a brief background of NAFADO, Executive Secretary Alex Gandi outlined the organization's objectives which include coordinating, monitoring and evaluating all activities connected to drug abuse, prevention and to check the proliferation of anti drug groups to avoid duplication of efforts. “Over the years the federation has succeeded in attracting government's attention through its advocacy programmes,” he said.

Guma ‘Pump lock!'

Ibrahim Seibure and Sahr Musa Yamba 16/6/2006

Most of Freetown for the better part of Tuesday and Wednesday could not access pipe-borne water because Guma Valley Water Company, the outfit responsible to pump water throughout the city, was experiencing technical problems. Many homes, offices and public taps across Freetown were out of water supply. Many residents of the capital had to resort to trekking long distances to fetch water. There were complaints of many people resorting to using untreated well water for drinking.

“I had to report for work late and buy Grafton Water for drinking because there was no water to wash or cook in the morning,” a diplomat told Concord Times. Mary Musa, a housewife retorted, “this water crisis seems to be worsening. We could not get water to cook nor drink from the tap on Tuesday and Wednesday, we had to resort to using well water.”

In the far East of Freetown , Calaba Town , some residents in the area stated sarcastically it has taken over a year without getting pipe-borne water so it was necessary that the Central Freetown district experiences the problem so that immediate measures will be taken to solve the water crisis once and for all. Many offices in Central Freetown could not use their toilets as they were stinking because of lack of water.

However, some of the lucky areas that had little water supply complained of particles, brownish coloring and foul stench of the water. Public Relation Officer of the Guma valley water Company, Joseph Musa Wednesday explained that the sudden break in the supply of water experienced by residents in the city was as a result of a major breakdown of the main pipe between Hamilton and the water plant.

Musa says the breakdown is as a result of the old age of the pipes. He maintains these kinds of problems associated with water supply are global. “To change these pipes we need a lot of money,” he disclosed and added that some of these pipes were been changed by the Urban Water Supply Project. He however noted that the company's engineers are working on the breakdown and would have amended it by Thursday. Asked why the colour of the water has changed, Musa explained that it is as a result of a leakage on the pipes but that they are working assiduously to rectify the problem.

Health Minister visits class one pupil after serious injury

Mohamed Massaquoi 14/6/2006

Health and Sanitation Minister, Abator Thomas has visited Kadiatu Kamara, a Class One pupil of the YMCA Guntmag Primary School, Kissy who on Monday sustained serious head injury on her way home from school.According to the victim's father, Alusine Kamara, Kadiatu was coming from school when heavy winds started blowing that were eventually followed by a heavy down pour of rain and that it was in the process that a steel window fell from a four story building between the Blackhall Road-Newcastle Street area and landed on her head.“She got a deep cut very close to her brain,” he said, adding that Dr. Ibrahim Bundu is trying very hard to ensure that the girl survives the accident.Kamara further disclosed that after the incident, the child went unconscious and that it was her school teacher, Jeremiah Kanu who came to her rescue and then took her to the Connaught hospital.

The minister thanked doctors and nurses of the hospital for their quick intervention, maintaining that emergency cases are treated freely without asking for a fee from parents or guidance.He further noted that Connaught hospital is always open for people to take their patients there as there is proper medical care on offer.

UNICEF denies distributing expired drugs

Samuel Harding 05/6/2006

UNICEF Thursday issued a press statement registering its concern over an article published by the PEEP! newspaper on Wednesday 31 st May 2006 captioned: ‘Pharmacy Board Seizes Expired UNICEF Drugs'.

“UNICEF wishes to categorically state that at no time has it ordered or distributed expired drugs to this country,” the statement states and continued, “UNICEF would therefore make it known that small quantities of anti biotic and allergy treatment drugs for children (120,000 chlorphenamine tablets and 3,000 chlorpromazine injections) were donation in kind offered in October 2005.”

The release further states that despite the limited expiry date of the drugs, UNICEF accepts the offer in order for quick and effective distribution and uses it to better respond to the dire situations of children in Sierra Leone .

“As such ‘two boxes' of the said drugs, not ‘containers', as quoted in the article indeed arrived in Sierra Leone on 28 th November 2005. Unfortunately, the process of obtaining duty free concession as well as clearing of the shipment was only finalized in May 2006.”

The statement continued: “UNICEF prides itself as a credible partner with the Government of Sierra Leone and has over the past 20 years been a critical contributor to the achievement of advancement of primary health care service delivery in Sierra Leone .”

Specifically, the release states, the provision of vaccines for immunization, maintenance of cold chain, as well as the provision of long lasting insecticide treated bed nets has been critical in addressing vaccine preventable diseases and malaria which are the main contributing factors to infant deaths in Sierra Leone. The country continues to have the highest infant mortality rate in the world with one in every three child dying before its fifth birthday. Child survival is therefore a key priority for UNICEF.

“UNICEF therefore wishes to take this opportunity to call upon colleagues of the Forth Estate who we value as critical partners in development to ensure balanced and objective reporting for the well being and development of the people of this country especially its women and children,” the release concludes .

Civil society poised to fight HIV/AIDS

Mohamed Massaquoi 19/5/2006

A coalition comprising key HIV/AIDS response organizations has been formed to ensure that AIDS pandemic is reduced in the country. In a press briefing held at the Council of Churches in Sierra Leone (CCSL), ActionAid country Director, Tennyson Williams stated that Civil Society organizations have a very significant reason to actively participate in the campaign against the prevalent rate of HIV/AIDS in the country.

He said as civil society organizations they should not sit aside and allow people to be infected with the disease without sensitizing them and noted that the political will is highly important in the sensitization drive as strategies need to be in place to raise awareness among the general populace. Williams pointed out that one of the prominent issues of the disease is the discrimination of people infected.

“We should try to inculcate policy in our various institutions to employ HIV positive people to avoid discrimination,” he warned and added that the disease is not only transmitted by unprotected sexual intercourse.

Williams pointed out that the coalition will participate in the Global AIDS Week of Action starting from the 20 th - 26 th May and that the week is dedicated to Civil Society voices around the world to speak out and demand a strong response and to be more accountable.

Dr Brima Kargbo director of National AIDS Secretariat commended Civil Society for undertaking such a venture as all and sundry should work hard to fight against disease and maintained that government is seriously working to ensure that there is massive sensitization campaign across the country on the prevision.

“In order to reach out to the grassroot people, we have engaged with Councilors and Paramount Chiefs to control the disease in their respective areas,” he said and maintained that they have located areas at various communities to test people for HIV/ AIDS and to provide ARD for pregnant women.

Koinadugu district tops HIV/Aids infection list

Mohamed Massaquoi 16/5/2006

Dr. Mohamed Vincent Kawa of the National AIDS Secretariat (NAS) Wednesday disclosed that Koinadugu district has the highest number of HIV/AIDS infection cases. awa made this statement during the launch of the Children's Rights to HIV and AIDS Treatment Report at the St. Anthony Parish Hall, Freetown .

He says his organization has conducted a nationwide survey on the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the country and it was recorded that Koinadugu district has the highest number of people with HIV/AIDS more than any part in the country.

“Despite massive HIV sensitization in the country, the Western Area and tertiary institutions have very little knowledge about the disease,” he said. Shirley Gbujama, Minister of Social Welfare, Gender and Children Affairs said children are missing in the international HIV/AIDS debate.

She pointed out that the report would serve as a tool for sensitization. “The voices of children should be hard in the treatment of the disease,” she said and added that the overall objective of the report is to mobilize funding “As government plans for the achievement of the 2010 targets, we have a chance to make sure that treatment is provided to children,” she states.

“The world is failing children” says UNICEF

Micheal Bockarie 15/5/2006

A report card on Nutrition says the proportion of children under five years old who are underweight has fallen only slightly since 1990, according to UNICEF. A report, which was delivered in Dakar by the Regional Director Esther Gulama states the world is failing children.

She maintained that poor nutrition remains a global epidemic contributing to more than half of all child deaths, which is about 5,6million per year. Gulama said, “more than a quarter of all children in West and Central Africa are malnourished. She maintained that 27% of children under five years in developing countries are underweight.

“For every visibly undernourished child, there are several more children battling a hidden nutrition crisis”, the Regional Director said, noting that many are seriously deficient in essential vitamins and mineral such as iodine, vitamins A and iron. She said that without these essential vitamins the children cannot perform properly at school and they become easy prey for common diseases and death.

“Under nutrition and child mortality is closely linked… In West and Central Africa under nutrition is the cause of over 50% of child deaths”, Gulama stated.

Gulama further disclosed that some countries in West and Central Africa have made significant progress in supporting exclusive breastfeeding for infants, which is the most single important child survival intervention, bi-annual vitamin A supplementation and deworming for children, and universal solid iodization.

HIV/Aids Watch

Sahr Musa Yamba

AIDS
AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is an infectious disease that is spread by a virus. It is called a ‘syndrome' because it consists of several sings and symptoms. In many African countries it is now the major cause of premature death.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

HIV is what is known as a retrovirus. Little is known about its origin or the ways in which it can be cured.

The virus enters the T-helper cells of the immune system. It then destroys genetic material within the T-helper cells. The damage it causes is PERMANENT. All body fluids contain t-helper cells but the highest concentration can be found in blood, semen and vaginal secretion.

Who can carry the virus?
Anyone with virus can infect someone else. It is common for a carrier to not know that they are infected with the virus. Carriers may have no obvious signs that they are carriers. A person can be a carrier for many years before they fall ill. So, it's is really the responsibility of individuals to be aware that Aids/HIV can strike anybody.

A few months after someone has contracted HIV their body begins to produce antibodies to the virus. These anti bodies can be detected by a special test. In most countries at least one hospital can offer this test. Anyone who thinks they may have been in contact with a carrier should have the test as soon as possible.

How might you have come into contact with a carrier?

HIV is spread when blood, semen or vaginal secretion of an infected person comes in contact with the blood or mucous membranes of a healthy person. The virus is spread by:

•  sexual intercourse between two people of the same or opposite sex, when one of the partners is infected

•  by transfusion of infected blood

•  by infected needles used by drug users who inject themselves with a substance

•  by an infected mother to her unborn child

When can you NOT catch HIV/Aids

The virus is NOT spread by:

•  shaking hands

•  living together

•  playing together

•  eating together

•  using some else's plates or cups

•  eating the same food as a carrier

•  drinking the same water as a carrier

•  insects

•  toilet seats

How to prevent the spread of aids

There is no vaccine against Aids and, as yet no medicine to stop its spread within a person. Some multi-drug combinations do exist but they are (a) expensive and (b) only a slowing down agent, they do not cure a sufferer. So, your life style is the way in which you can prevent the spread of aids!

The desire for sexual activity is a normal part of human behaviour. Many young people now feel pressure from their peers to begin experimenting with sexual activity at a young age. It is quite common for a young girl to be menstruating in her early teenage years and then she is able to reproduce. Similarly, a young boy can mature into a sexually mature male in his early teenage years. It is the pressure to experiment with these new feelings and abilities that can lead young people into very dangerous situations. The risk of catching aids increases as a young person sleeps with more partners. To them it may seem exciting but the risks are high. To be safe a young person who is sexually active should (a) use a condom and (b) have one faithful sexual partner.

“I don't use condoms always,” Sex worker tells Concord Times

Sahr Musa Yamba

The rate at which the number of sex workers is increasing countrywide is alarming. Alarming because the number of Guest Houses in the country have not only quadrupled, but the spots where sex workers ply their trade across Freetown alone, have also increased significantly. In the East of Freetown alone, several points where sex workers throng each night include Bode Ose, Saloon, Eddie Mathews, Fol Coup, Shell, Former Clay Factory Displaced Camp and Duba, Cline Town .This week, Concord Times' Interview of the Week talks to a sex worker, Marie Turay who also sells at Salad Ground in the centre of Freetown . Marie, 24, says she sometimes uses condoms but not all of the time because some customers are ‘trusted.'

Read on…

Q: Do you use condoms throughout your sexual activities?

A: Yes because I wan to protect myself, it is for protection. Are you not seeing my body how fresh it is?

Q: What are you afraid off while using condoms during sex?

A: The disease HIV, the disease which does not have medicine.

Some people do say that there is no HIV, but it exists, I have seen some body with AIDs.

Q: Was she tested?

A: Let me tell you. My child was seriously sick and we were admitted at the same hospital at Saroulla. The lady was first admitted at Connaught , and later transferred to Saroulla hospital. A very young girl, she was beautiful and good-looking, but the disease changed her condition. You could see her hair falling off because of the disease. From that time I became afraid of the disease.

Q: But before then you have been having sex without condom?

A: It has not taken a long time since I started coming here, it was because my husband abandoned me that led me to the game. One of my friends introduced me to this game.

Q: What you actually do to your husband for him to have abandoned you?

A: He did something bad to me.

Q: You did not do anything to him?

A: He fell in love with my best friend at the same area.

Q: So because he fall in love with her that was why you abandoned him and started working as a sex worker?

A: No, he did not treat me well; he allowed his girl friend to abuse my parents and me.

Q: You are so many here working as sex workers and I was told that some have pimps. Is that correct? And besides, do you normally encounter difficulty with some customers who may want to be rude or rough with you taking advantage that you are a woman?

A: I don't have a middleman to facilitate my business, I have never met with a ruff man, they sometimes propose love to me but I am not interested. But there are those who are my customers that come here looking for me. We don't use coindoms as they have confessed that since they started having sex with me they havce never contracted infectious disease. Besides, any other person that wants to have sex with me I look at the persons condition before agreeing to have sex without condoms. In fact I am particularly afraid of the young boys, as for the old men, I have confidence in them so we make love without using condoms. They are the only ones I agree to on that condition because they pay more.

Q: Are you not afraid that man may have HIV and you will get infected or he has sex with another girl that has the disease and you get infected?

A: There is a girl here who has TB. I am going to show her to you please don't call her. All of us know that she has TB. She does not come here often because she hustles at the quay. I am sure it is because of the cold there that she has developed TB.

Q: Are you not afraid if she can have sex with a man and at the same time with you?

A: She is not working here but another side.

Q: Do all the girls here at Saloon do use condoms?

A: Majority doesn't use it that is why they are always sick.

Q: Are there some who are sick.

A: Yes so many of them are sick.

Q: Do they go for test?

A: I don't know about that, because we are not residing together.

Q: But you can sex without condom?

A: I said I can't sex without condom, but I can look to the condition of the person and have sex with him, but I don't have confidence in the young boys, because I have some permanent customers if I am not around they will go back. For these ones we don't use condoms because I know that they are safe, and we have been doing it without any problem. They do tell me that since we have been doing it they have not faced any problem. My friends do quarrel with me. The last time they fought with me. It is all Bad heart, if they find out that you are getting more customers they would develop jealous mind for you.

Celtel honors retired Maada Francis Davies

Tanu Jalloh 27/2/2006

Pioneer and founder of Celtel, leading Sierra Leone mobile phone Company, Maada Francis Davies was Friday honoured and bade farewell during a dinner organized at Hotel Cabenda by the management to show appreciation of his contributions to the company's success. Explaining the purpose for the soiree like gathering, Managing Director, Celtel, Jean-Yves Kwasi-Golly (JY) showered praises at the retiring Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director Administration for being the pillar of Celtel.

“We are celebrating the farewell party of Pa Francis Davies who has not only been the pioneer but the biggest pillar of Celtel in Sierra Leone . It's sad to look him leave the company. I would, on behalf of Celtel Sierra Leone, thank him for what he has done for the company,” JY said adding that he still ponders over the reality of Pa Davies retiring from the company.

Pa Davies was described as a monument of Celtel in particular and for the telecom industry in general. His contributions they say are immense, especially in overseeing the transition of three Managing Directors since the inception of the Company some five or more years ago.Before proposing the toast, the MD said Pa Davies' personality and presence at Celtel made open many doors qualifying it as a corporate citizen. He said management and staff of Celtel is saying goodbye to a monument upon whose foundation they intend to improve and expand.

Maada Francis Davies, a title he earned after the provincial staff honoured him as grandfather and dressed him in country clothes, explained reasons for his retirement as a response to JY's question of why he retired. “I am leaving because of wisdom which is the correct use of knowledge. I have very mixed feelings given the occasion in honour of my retirement. I have been praised and lauded. This means Celtel would not want me retire on an empty stomach. I am grateful because Celtel does not only make life better for its customers but also for its pensioners,” explained Pa Davies.

He introduced his successor as Mrs. Olu Fella Adeyeme who is stepping in as Human Resource and Administrative Manager. “I have no doubt that she would be using the modern technology to improve on the services of Celtel. I'll continue to associate with Celtel even after my retirement. I am asking everybody to give Mrs. Fella Adeyeme all the support you have been giving me during my working with the company,” he implored graciously.

World Vision Director commends NaCSA

Theodora Renner 27/2/2006

The National Director of the American Christian Charity, World Vision, Myles Harrison has commended the national Commission for Social action (NaCSA) and spoken about his organization's new development approach and Strategy in Sierra Leone . During discussion with NaCSA commissioner Alhaji Kanja Sesay, Harrison disclosed that the new area development initiative is a 15-year plan that places emphasis on capacity building in the targeted communities of Bo, Bonthe and Kono.

The National Director said the aim of the strategy is to ensure a smooth transition by leaving structures at the end of the programme that could be used by the communities to enhance their development. He told Commissioner Sesay that his call on him is to acquaint himself with NaCSA's strategy and focus, noting the commendable work of NaCSA, which could be seen all over the Country.

World Vision, he said, is ready to collaborate with and complement NaCSA's efforts in working directly with communities to rebuild the country. Responding, Kanja Sesay said NaCSA has worked extensively with NGOs prior to the change of working directly with beneficiary communities through the Direct Community Financing Strategy in the Community-Driven Programmed (CDP). The Commissioner pointed out that in the new DCF strategy, there is effective community participation and ownership of the projects with NGOs involved in capacity building and training.

25-year-old SaLone movie actress donates to orphanage

Aminata Conteh, a 25-year-old Sierra Leonean movie actress last week donated $400 to an orphanage at Kossoh Town in the far east of Freetown .

Aminata, based in Australia says she is currently in the country to explore possibilities of starting a movie industry in the country. She says the donation made at the orphanage was just a gesture she made out of the passion she has to help people. “The money doled out was supposed to be my hotel fee when I returned to Freetown after long years in Australia , but I thought it fit that it is better if I gave that money as donation and reside somewhere else,” Aminata says.

Aminata says she has no relatives in the country, but as a product of the Harford Secondary School for Girls, Moyamba, she has a very big dream of helping youths of her age. “The most important thing for me is to make a difference in some one's life, especially youths,” she says.

The movie actress says she has been in contact with other actors like Dr. Julius Spencer and Desmond Finney, but did admits that contact is yet to yield fruits. She says she is in Sierra Leone to work with the movie industry, not on holiday. “I do acting for a living, that's my job,” she says. Aminata says she left Sierra Leone back in 1999 after rebels captured her for about six weeks and afterwards, she traveled to Australia in 2002 after a brief spell in Conakry Guinea .

Asked what inspired her into the movie industry, Aminata replied, “I used to sing, dance and act while at Haford. I loved doing it and when I went to Australia , I wanted to do modeling. I was not thinking of acting then. But a pastor's sermon in Australia that we should not expose our body, as it is the Lord's temple touched me. This changed my perception of everything which I didn't regret.” Amininata says she has played roles in American movies like ‘Stealth', ‘The son of the Macks' and ‘Superman,' the most recent which has been shot this year and to be released in 2006. She says she took a more prominent role in ‘Superman' wherein she spent about three months acting.

Aminata says she also does commercials. She noted that it was a daunting task in getting a leading role in the movie industry in Australia because not many blacks make it due to their accent.