By: Problyn J. Alpha
The community development initiative Sierra Leone (Comdi-SL) has held a day meeting with the people of Tankoro, Gbense including the other twelve Chiefdoms in Kono District and thereby, urged them to continue observing all Covid-19 Preventive measures especially when approaching festive season.
Explaining the purpose of the meeting, the social Behavioral Communications change officer for community Development initiative Sierra Leone (Comdi –SL), Joseph Gambai, maintained that the main purpose of the meeting was to remind them about Covid-19, HIV & Aids, T.B and malaria sicknesses respectively. He added that the meeting was based on the community Action Against malaria, HIV & Aids, T.B and Covid-19 through social Mobilization in the various communities in the fourteen (14) Chiefdoms in Kono District.
Mr. Gambai further maintained that the corona virus is still in the country and that is why the world health organization (WHO) has not announced the country free of Covid-19. He expressed with dismay that people are still doing their normal and daily activities without observing the Covid-19 preventions such as hand washing with soap, the use of face marks, social distance including the opening of entertainment centers like bars, clubs and cinema halls.
He intimated the audience that, they are getting funds from the catholic relief Service (CRS) and the Global funds Sierra Leone under the NFF 3 and Covid-19 projects that are only meant for the fourteen (14) chiefdoms in Kono District. He revealed that Comdi -SL is operating in three (3) districts which includes Bo, Bonthe and Kono respectively.
Meanwhile, the audience was told during the meeting that, they should engage others in their various communities who were not part of the meeting that they should always be aware of the Covid-19, HIV & Aids, T.B and Malaria. He encouraged the people to take community health centers as a place to gain sounds health at all times whenever the dire need arises.
Mr. Gambai concluded by urging all and sundry to visit the health centers for the Covid-19 vaccine, malaria treatment and to check on their HIV & Aids and T.B status in order to keep the societies safe.
Rebecca Trye, the finance officer of Community Development Initiative Sierra Leone (Comdi – SL, maintained that without the vaccine, there is no other medicine that can cure Covid-19 virus. She added that everyone needs to be protecting and preventing each other as prevention is better than cure. She however, advised her colleague women to take health Centers as places to get normal healthcare services
“As women, let’s try very HARD AND TAKE THE Covid-19 vaccine to avoid sickness because we suffer a lot when there is any outbreak of disease”, said
Rebecca Trye.
On their parts David Sahr Joe and Aminata Alie on behalf of their colleague participants of the aforesaid session, thanked the management of Comdi-SL for such educative meeting and promised to educate others who were not part of the meeting.