MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT DONATES HYGEINE MATERIALS TO FOUR LOCAL COUNCILS

By MLGRD MEDIA UNIT.

JOHN BRAIMA (RIGHT) HANDING OVER A CONSIGNMENT OF HYGEINE MATRIALS TO HON. TAMBA LAMINA (LEFT)

 

 

CHAIRMAN, WARD C, KARSHOR H. COLE, (LEFT) RECEIVING HIS COUNCIL’S ITEMS FROM JOHN BRAIMA

 

SOME OF THE DONATED ITEMS.

 

 

FREETOWN, 1^ST JUNE, 2020 (MLGRD) As part of measures aimed at complementing Government’s effort in the fight against the Corona Virus, (COVID -19) pandemic, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development through the Decentralisaion Secretariat (DECSEC), has donated a large consignment of Hygiene materials to the   Bombali,  Port Loko, Western Area Rural and Freetown City Councils respectively.

The items which included Customized Hand Washing Milla Tanks, Veronica Buckets, Soaps, Hand Sanitizers, Tissues, Face Masks, Information Education and Communication Materials were also donated to some key public institutions, including Police Stations, Hospital and Peripheral Health Centres, Correctional  Centres and Security Check Points in the four districts.

Speaking during a handing over ceremony held at the ministry of Local Government, the Leader of the Covid-19 Response Team who also doubles as the Capacity Building Manager of the Decentralisation Secretariat, John Braima said the donation was provided by the Japanese Government under the Social Development Funds Project, managed by the World Bank.

Mr. Braima said the three years programme which is expected to end this year was designed to address Post- Ebola Recovery activities in four Local Councils, noting that following the outbreak of the Corona (COVID-19) disease in the country, they were able to convince the World Bank and Japanese Government to support the ministry in its effort to   respond to challenges posed by the pandemic.

The donation, he said will enable the ministry take the lead and serve as a shining example for others to emulate with respect to the implementation of preventive  measures relating to the disease.  He expressed optimism that the items will help staff of the ministry and general public observe hygiene measures that would help prevent the spread of the disease.

Receiving the items on behalf of his ministry, the minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Tamba Sylvanus Lamina described the items as valuable assets to the ministry, considering the fact that each and every one of them including visitors must adhere to measures relating the pandemic.

He described the J.S.D.F. Project’s intervention as timely, adding that the consignment will not only be useful for prevention against the disease but also ensure staff of the ministry report for work regularly.

Whilst thanking the donors for the gesture, Mr. Lamina expressed the fact that issues covered in the information, education and communication materials presented to them will resonate with Covid -19 guidelines and hoped the beneficiaries will appreciate the importance of social mobilization in the fight against the disease and adhere to rules relating to the disease in spite of their diverse cultural practices.

Addressing residents during a sensitization programme in market places, streets and  Lorry parks among others, the Senior  Information, Education and Communication Officer of DEC SEC, Mohamed Husain Rogers, entreated them to always maintain social distancing, wear face masks, wash hands among others as measures to prevent the spread of the virus.

Receiving the donation on behalf of their compatriots, the Chairman of Bombali District Council, John Shanghai Kororma, Chief Administrator, Port Loko District Council, Rahmn Tom Farmah and Deputy Mayor of Freetown City Council, thanked J.S.D.F.Project for the initiative and promised to use the items for their intended purposes. A  Nurse at  a Health Centre, Pate Bana, Makeni,  Isatu Swarray, Matron of  the Bombali District Government Hospital, Mamawa Conteh, Head of Mena Police Station in Makeni,  A.S.P. Jattu Moore and Commander of the Regional  Correctional Centre in Bombali District, Sallaimatu Koye Bangura also expressed similar sentiments about the gesture.

 

END