By: Mohamed M. Sesay
As part of the age old tradition for the Republic of the Sierra Leone Arm Forces, the Minister of Defense Brigadier General Rtd. Kellie Hassan Conteh and senior management of the RSLAF, have yesterday distributed Christmas Gifts over 82 patients at the 34 Military Hospital.
The Minister of Defense disclosed that the donation in the form of Christmas gift for patients at the 34 military hospitals is very important to the Ministry of Defense and the republic of the Sierra Leone Arm Forces. He disclosed that they usually pay visit to military personnel hospitalized at the 34 military hospitals. He said it has been a tradition of the RSLAF to celebrate Christmas with patients by providing Christmas gifts and equally pray for the patients for speedy recovery.
The Minister of Defense also intimated that some of the items donated were bought by the Ministry of Defense and some by friends of the Ministry of Defense such as miller group and some banks. He noted that the Ministry of Defense has always been benefiting from those partners and therefore, expressed optimism for continuity of such relationship.
“We want to thank our partners in private and publicly and we also appreciate their effort in helping us get these items .It is very unfortunate to replicate such gesture in all of the smaller units within the RSLAF. But we do send to them our heart and tell them that we are with them in solidarity whether they are sick or well. We do send messages to our troops wherever they are deployed and we also send staff officers to visit them physically”, he said.
Brigadier Kellie expressed uncontrollable elation about the massive progress on the refurbishment and infrastructural development at the 34 Military Hospital. He added that the massive infrastructural development at the 34 Military Hospital is to demonstrate government’s aspiration in assisting RSLAF in terms of provision of effective medical services not only for military personnel, but also for the community at large. He concluded by extending deepest thanks and appreciation to the First Lady Madam Fatima Bio for such indelible initiative in rebranding the 34 Military Hospital.
In receipt of the Christmas Gifts, Col. Dr. Stephen Sevale described the timely donation as very tremendous and overwhelming which was evident from the expression from the patients. He reaffirmed that such donation is not new because it has been an aged old tradition for the RSLAF. He disclosed that at the end of every year, senior management of the RSLAF would ensure that they deliver Christmas Gifts to patients inclusively. He disclosed that about 82 people benefited from the Christmas Gifts donated by RSLAF.
