By: Fatmata Grace Okekearu, Bo City
The EDMU Family Charities Foundation has donated a consignment of essential medical equipment to the Physiotherapy Department of Bo Government Hospital in a move aimed at strengthening rehabilitation services and improving healthcare delivery for patients in Sierra Leone.
The presentation ceremony, held at the hospital in Bo City, brought together hospital staff, physiotherapists, and representatives of the foundation, who described the donation as part of a broader humanitarian mission to support vulnerable communities and improve access to quality healthcare services.
Speaking during the handing-over ceremony, Mrs. Umu Lebbie of the EDMU Family Charities Foundation explained that the organization has been involved in charitable and humanitarian activities for many years, even before she and her husband retired in 2023 and relocated to Sierra Leone from the United States.
According to her, the foundation’s commitment to supporting disadvantaged communities is driven by a strong desire to give back to society and assist institutions facing limited resources.
She disclosed that after returning to Sierra Leone following their retirement, her husband became seriously ill, leading them to seek medical treatment at Choithram Memorial Hospital in Freetown. During that difficult period, she said, they visited several health facilities across the country and witnessed firsthand the many challenges confronting the healthcare sector.
Mrs. Lebbie noted that the experience exposed them to shortages of medical equipment, inadequate support systems, and the daily difficulties healthcare workers encounter in delivering quality services to patients.
“We started this charity long before relocating to Sierra Leone. After our retirement in 2023, we decided to return home. Unfortunately, my husband became ill and we had to seek treatment at Choithram Memorial Hospital in Freetown,” she stated.
“During our stay and visits to different hospitals, we observed the numerous challenges facing healthcare facilities, especially in terms of medical equipment and staffing. Having lived abroad for many years, we felt it was important to return home and contribute meaningfully to the well-being of our people. Through our church and personal efforts, we began supporting those in need,” she added.
She further revealed that the EDMU Family Charities Foundation has previously supported several health institutions and vulnerable groups across Sierra Leone, including Pujehun Government Hospital, Bo Government Hospital, and a number of orphanages in different parts of the country.
The latest donation to the Physiotherapy Department included twenty-seven front-wheeled walkers, nine underarm (axillary) crutches, and one pair of elbow crutches. The equipment is expected to significantly improve patient mobility, rehabilitation support, and recovery outcomes for individuals receiving physiotherapy treatment at the hospital.
Receiving the donated items on behalf of the hospital, the matron and staff of the Physiotherapy Department expressed heartfelt appreciation to the EDMU Family Charities Foundation for what they described as a timely and impactful intervention.
They noted that the donated equipment would help ease some of the challenges faced by both patients and healthcare workers, particularly amid growing demand for rehabilitation services and limited medical resources.
Hospital authorities also commended Mrs. Umu Lebbie and the foundation for their continued humanitarian efforts and unwavering commitment to supporting healthcare delivery in Sierra Leone.
They called on other organizations, philanthropists, and well-meaning Sierra Leoneans both at home and abroad to emulate the foundation’s example by contributing toward the improvement of the country’s healthcare system.