April 19, 2017 By Memunatu Bangura
In a bid to promote the provision of quality health service, Usman Boie Kamara Foundation, African Diaspora Coordinating Office, African Women’s Cancer Awareness Association and partners, with support from Krio Descendants, Washington Metropolitan Chapter, Well Women’s clinic, among others, have embarked on a volunteer medical and dental mission in Sierra Leone on the theme: ‘Direct healthcare delivery to communities and people in need.’
Founder and Director of African Diaspora Coordinating Office, Mamadu Juma Bah, said the aim of the mission in the country was to carry out screening and treatment for different kind of diseases affecting Sierra Leoneans.
Bah explained that there were five Doctors from the United Kingdom and United States of America, five local Doctors and up to twenty medical personnel as support team.
He stated that some of the basic screening included diabetes, arthritis, cancer, high blood pressure, eye problem, body pain and removal of teeth, among others illnesses.
He continued that registration of patients, treatment, removal of teeth and distribution of medicine was free of charge, noting that one of the objectives of the mission was to help people and communities that were in need of medical attention.
He continued that on the first day of the mission, the medical team treated about five hundred patients at Connaught hospital, and that the dental team also treated about one hundred patients adding that eye problem was prevalence among the reported illnesses.
Director of African Women’s Cancer Awareness Association, who doubles as the specialist for the cancer cases, Teresa Akpan-Ofong, expressed dissatisfaction at the level of cancer awareness and sensitisation in the country.
“It is disturbing, unfortunate and worrisome that people are not aware about breast cancer in this country. It is also unfortunate that breast cancer awareness is not effective,” she said.
She said the team has been working for the past twelve years in seventeen countries across Africa.
She called on all Sierra Leoneans both male and female to always check their breast, noting that males were also diagnosed with breast cancer.
One of the beneficiaries, Zainab Kargbo, said she was diagnosed with arthritis and high blood pressure and was treated and given medicine for free of charge.
She appreciated the medical for their mission in Sierra Leone stating that she normally pays the sum of two hundred and fifty thousand Leone to consult her medical Doctor.
She called on other well-meaning Sierra Leoneans to follow the footstep of Usman Boie Foundation and partners for the improvement of better health in the country.