March 3, 2016 By Ibrahim Tarawallie
A humanitarian non-profitable charity organization, MELQOSH Mission International, has been providing support to war victims, including amputees, orphans and widows across the country.
The eleven years rebel war in Sierra Leone brought unforgettable consequences, especially to those who had their hands and legs amputated by renegade armed men.
According to the founder of the organisation, Faith Okafor-Smart, MELQOSH started operation in 2008 in the northern part of the country by providing support to disabled persons.
She told a presser in Freetown that for the past eight years they have been providing educational and other support to amputees and the less-privileged in society, adding, “We have been working with seven amputee camps in the country. We have also been sending containers with food, clothing and medical facilities as well as monetary gifts for these amputees.”
She continued that the organisation’s mission was to remove amputees from the streets and give them a better life by launching an operation called: “Save amputees and orphans from the street”.
Madam Okrafor-Smart disclosed that they intend to develop an academy for amputees where they will provide them with different skills of livelihood.
“The Mission is not a government or international funded organisation. Donations come from good hearted people. Amputees are part of society and they should be cared for,” she said and thanked Ellen Thomas, a Sierra Leonean residing in England, for donating £2,000 on her birthday during their February fundraising love campaign in America.
One of the organisation’s beneficiaries, Eleanor Abdulai, a student of the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM), said she was amputated at the age of 10 after stepping on landmines.
“Since then life as an amputee has not been easy for me. I have been marginalised. Though we are amputated, we are still useful in society and people should not look low upon us,” she said and thanked MELQOSH Mission for given her reason to live and accomplish her dreams by supporting her education pursuit.