By: Saidu Jalloh
The Advocacy for Youth Mental Health Empowerment (AYMHE) has taken a significant step in addressing drug abuse by partnering with the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) to launch sensitization campaigns in the East End community.
A pivotal meeting was held on Tuesday at the office of the Director of Gender and Community Affairs, ACP Adama Ngobeh, on George Street in Freetown. During the meeting, Esther Sesay, the Project Consultant for AYMHE, outlined the organization’s goal of collaborating with the police to raise awareness about drug abuse and its impact on youth in the area.
ACP Ngobeh welcomed the initiative, emphasizing the importance of cooperation between AYMHE and the SLP. Drawing from her previous experience as a Local Unit Commander (LUC) in East End, she noted that the community is often unfairly portrayed. She expressed optimism about the project’s potential and encouraged AYMHE to promptly draft a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for submission to the Inspector General of Police for proper review and guidance. Additionally, she requested advance notice of the dates and locations for the planned sensitization activities.
Superintendent George Momoh, LUC of East End Police, also commended the initiative. He revealed that AYMHE had previously engaged him on the matter and advised the organization to liaise with the Community Relations Department (CRD), which is responsible for strengthening police-community engagement.
The meeting also featured input from the Head of the CRD at Police Headquarters. After a fruitful discussion, the meeting concluded with a group photo, marking a promising start to the partnership.
This collaboration aims to raise awareness and combat drug abuse in the East End community, benefiting local youth and fostering better police-community relations.