West Africa Disaster Preparedness Initiative (WADPI)

By Memunatu Bangura

Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation 1, Madina Rahman, has said that the current water crisis in Freetown and its environs might cause a cholera outbreak and other water borne diseases.

"Because of the areas where people go to fetch water, I am worried that we may experience water borne diseases," she noted.

Madam Rahman was updating newsmen last Thursday at a presser held at the Ministry of Information and Communications, Youyi building in Freetown.

She said the country was challenged by acute water shortage and that she was worried there could be a serious disease outbreak because people collect drinking water from unprotected sources without boiling or filtering.

She said about 1.8 million people die from cholera and other water borne diseases annually around the world, adding that it was a concern for the government.

Employees of Sierra Rutile Limited (SRL)-from management to senior staff, have offered to provide teaching assistance to Imperi Secondary School; the largest secondary school in SRL’s operational area.

For the past years, the output of pupils at Imperi School, especially in public exams, has not been encouraging. This, according to findings, is as a result of ill-equipped staff and lack of relevant teaching materials.

The Njaluahun Development Organization (NJADO) on Friday 27th May 2016 awarded scholarships to 54 Ebola orphans in Segbwema Town, Njaluahun Chiefdom Kailahun District. The ceremony was held at the Segbwema Community Center. The scholarships which is estimated around two thousand United States Dollars is offered to improve the educational standards of the pupils whose parents/guardians died during the course of the Ebola scourge. Donation of special text books to 18 schools in Segbwema also formed part of the scholarship award.

In his opening statement, the Chairman of Ceremony, John Jauna who doubles as Lecturer of Njala University College, Bo Campus said the Ebola situation was rather unfortunate and therefore NJADO is in solidarity with the prevailing circumstances that led to the demise of many compatriots. He said one way anybody can help now is to give support to the victims. According to him, Njaluahun has many prominent people, but just few of them, including those in Diaspora decided to establish NJADO with the aim of give their unreserved support to Njaluahun.  

MERS, H1N1, swine flu, chikungunya, Zika: Another virus with a peculiar name always seems to be right around the corner, threatening to become a pandemic.