August 24, 2015 By Victoria Saffa
As the Ebola virus devastated lives of many in Sierra Leone, the United States of Sierra Leoneans Association (USSLA) based in New York on Friday, 21 August made donations to different hospitals with medical items nationwide.
The donated medical items include gloves, gowns, syringes, drips, among others, costing over US$20,000.
Public Relations Officer, Eric Sam Kabba, said the purpose of donating the medical items was to support efforts to eradicate the Ebola virus disease in the country as many Sierra Leoneans and health workers have lost their lives to the virus.
He said they are making the donation because it is their responsibility to help the country during difficult times, adding that their association is non-political and they are always ready to support any government.
“We pleaded with doctors in the United States for them to help us with the medical items for the fight against the Ebola virus, and we have been into this for the past 12 years, seeking for help,” he said.
He added that they also have plans to help people with disabilities because the country has many disabled persons as a result of the 11 years armed conflict, with many again affected by the Ebola disease.
“I am deeply disappointed with customs officers at the quay, and also with some government officials because they never allowed me to take the medical items out of the quay as duty free; I spent Le18 million to clear the items,” he lamented.
He therefore called on medical officials to use the items for their rightful purpose and ensure they reach the beneficiaries.
Receiving the items on behalf of the Rokupa Government Hospital, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Bernard Sesay, thanked the association for helping the country with medical items, noting that they came at the right time.
He called on other Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora to emulate the good example of USSLA by extending a helping hand to their country of birth.