Mabela Community Needs Urgent Help

PRESS RELEASE

MABELA SUFFERS, NEEDS HELP

FREETOWN: 

In Mabela, East of Freetown, close to 100 houses have been burnt caused by fire accident. The incident has also left many people dead and other wounded with property worth millions destroyed.

Many women and children lie homeless, starving and exhausted. Their families look on as government and aid workers begin a move that can save their situation.

Right now, more than 1, 000 children are suffering from shelter in the crowd infested slums and many others are facing accommodation problems having to host the victims in their houses.

STOP IT-Sierra Leone’s Executive Director John Koroma visited the area and observed that there is a challenging humanitarian crisis situation there and calls for immediate intervention. “It is devastating, only government and aid agencies can help” he said of the crisis.

Please help STOP IT-Sierra Leone and other dedicated humanitarian aid workers fight against the clock to save as many children from homelessness at Mabela.

The fire disaster has not only hit Mabela, but a spike in food prices has also brought thousands of poor displaced and homeless families to starving.

To help the families of the victims, we are preparing to scale up an emergency response in Mabela. With your help, we can be able to provide emergency nutrition for children, health supplies etc.


Please make a donation of blankets, food, medical supplies, or accommodation to support the victims of Mabela to STOP IT-Sierra Leone. The thousands of women and children whose lives are being affected at Mabela are depending on all of us.

To donate, please call: +232-76-482792 / +232-88-431848

Email:stopitsierraleone@yahoo.com

Thank you for helping us to save lives.

Sincerely,

Sierra Leone Scores Low in 2016 Human Development Index

Development for everyone requires the inclusion of everyone-Global Human Development Report 2016

                               Press Release 

Freetown March 30, 2017: Steady progress in human development cannot be achieved if half of the world’s population is bypassed, says the 2016 Global Human Development Report (GHDR). The Report was jointly launched by the Development Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, and the UNDP Resident Representative, on March 30, in Freetown.  

The Report, titled Human Development for Everyone,which was joint launched globally by the UNDP Administrator and the Prime Minister of Sweden in Stockholm on Tuesday of last week shows the unparalleled human development progress over the past 25 years, but says millions have not benefited from the gains. The report explores who has been left behind, why they have been left out and the urgent steps to bring these groups on board.

The Report, which focuses broadly on the richness of human lives rather than narrowly on the strength of economies, highlights the imbalances across countries: socio-economic, ethnic and racial groups; urban and rural areas; and women and men. The Report stresses that millions of people are unable to reach their full potential in life because they suffer deprivations in multiple dimensions of human development.According to the Report, Sierra Leone’s ranking in Human Development Index, which measures progress in long and healthy life, knowledge and decent standard of living, declined from 176 in 2014 to 179 out of the 188 countries and territories in 2015.

Development Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, John Sumailah,said Sierra Leone’s decline in Human Development Index was greatly influenced by the EVD outbreak and the fall in the international price of iron ore. He stressed the Government’s commitment in addressing the recommendations raised in the report to ensure human development reaches every Sierra Leonean.

The UNDP Resident Representative, Sunil Saigal, said the 2016 Human Development Report follows the first year of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the theme of this year’s report was drawn from and built on the SDGs.

The Human Development Report argues that to ensure human development for everyone, merely mapping of the nature and locations of deprivations is inadequate. Deeper analysis is required, including core human development aspects, such as human rights and human security, voice and participation, collective capabilities and interdependency of choices.

The UNDP Economic Advisor, Moses Sichei, while summarizing the findings of the Report, stressed that despite the country’s declined in HDI, live expectancy at birth improved from 50.9 years in 2014 to 51.3 years in 2015. Expected years of schooling and mean year of schooling stuck at 9.5 and 3.3, respectively over the same period. However, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Growth slowed from 4.6 percent in 2014 to negative 21,1 percent in 2015 implying a corresponding decline of the Gross National income per capita from US $ 1,960 to US $ 1,529 over the same period.

Vice Chancellor of the University of Sierra Leone, Professor Ekundayo Thompson, said that action towards achieving a human development for all should be accelerated across all sectors particularly on improving the education indicator.

“The latest global Human Development Report is a deafening alarm bell that as a country we need to revisit the education system and make a bold decision to improve on the level of its quality,” said Professor Thompson.

Sierra Leone’s gender inequality remains very high.The female HDI value for Sierra Leone is 0.392 in contrast with 0.451 for males, resulting in a GDI value of 0.871 which is one of the lowest in the world.

Multi-dimensional poverty which measures multiple deprivations in a household in education, health and living standards,that goes beyond the monetary aspects of people’s lives, shows that 77.5 percent of Sierra Leonean are multi-dimensionally poor.

The launch was witnessed by representatives of government ministries, departments and agencies, ambassadors, high commissioners, parliamentarians, development partners, policy-makers, gender activists, academicians, media, civil society and officials of the United Nations. 

For more information, please contact:

UNDP Communications Unit. Email: communication.sl@undp.org. Follow us on Twitter @UNDPSierraLeone and Facebook on UNDP Sierra Leone, or log on to www.sl.undp.org .

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UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground in more than 170 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations.

LAB trains 44 Tribal Heads as Paralegals

The Sierra Leone Legal Aid Board has trained forty-four members of the Western Area Council of Tribal Heads, their deputies, Section Chiefs and Barray Clerks as Paralegals. The training took place at the Sierra Leone Labour Congress Hall last Thursday, 23 March 2017. 

The Executive Director of the Legal Aid Board, Ms. Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles said the training is the first in a series to be organized by the Board in the coming months. She acknowledged the pivotal role of Tribal Heads in promoting access to justice because they dispense justice in an affordable and speedy manner.

She said the Tribal Heads are being trained as Paralegals to empower their mediation skills. Also, it will enable them to work with the police and the courts to assist their tribe’s men and women in accessing the formal justice system and do referrals for matters which fall outside their remit.

Ms. Carlton-Hanciles said the training is part of efforts by the Legal Aid Board to recognize their status in the justice delivery system. ‘We want to lobby government to have Local Courts in Freetown but first have to train you as Paralegals to build your capacity to dispense justice to address issues people, especially lawyers, have against you.’ She said. ‘This will address complaints you have against lawyers relating to undermining your authority.’

She encouraged the Tribal Heads to hold community level meetings to preserve some of the good tradition, one of which relate to the upbringing of children which was seen as a community affair. She noted that youths make up more than eighty percent of the prison population and that such meetings could go a long way to reverse this trend.

Papers were presented by staff of the Board on the work of the Paralegals in the areas of mediation, provision of legal assistance to members of the community accessing the formal and informal justice system, organizing legal education through community outreach and monitoring human rights issues in the community.

Contributions were made by the various tribes represented at the meeting. This includes the Susu, Yalunka, Temne, Loko, Mende, Mandingo, Bagga, Limba, Kono, Koranko and Bassa.

A Chief of the Temne community, Ya Alimamy Manso Karama noted that the training has helped them know the difference between matters they can handle and those to refer to the police.

The Kono Tribal Headman, Chief S.O. Gbekie stressed that the training has helped address issues of extortion in the courts run by members of the Council. The Public Relations Officer for the Council of Tribal Heads, Alhaji Kandeh F.M. Kamara said there is a clear line of authority between the Tribal Heads and the sub-chiefs stressing that there is no conflict between the two.

Dr. Sarian Kamara appointed chairperson of AU Committee

In conformity with the AU Consultative Act for composition of the Specialized Technical Committee (STC) and following due consultative amongst member states, the Bureau of the STC on Health, Population and Drug Control also appointed Vice Chairpersons for Cameroon-Central Africa, Mauritania - North Africa, Kenya - East Africa whilst Dr. Sarian Kamara was appointed Chairperson representing Sierra Leone for the West Africa region.

“Youth, Health and Development: Overcoming the challenge towards Harnessing the Demographic Dividend” was the theme slated for the meeting.

The Specialized Technical Committee (STC) on Health, Population and Drug Control is one of fourteen Specialized Technical Committee, defined as an organ of the African Union in accordance with Article 5 (1) (g) of the AU Consultative Act. The STC on Health, Population and Drug Control meets once every two years

The rationale is based on Health, Population and Nutrition and on the Health and Socio-economic consequences of illicit drugs on youth.

The rationale is looking at the Africa ‘we want’ as an Africa which is prosperous based on inclusive growth and sustainable development, on Africa whose development is people driven, and reliant on the potential offered by its people especially its women and Children. An Africa where there is a high standard of living and quality of life and well-being for all of its citizens, who are healthy and well nourished. The importance of ensuring good health is key to reducing youth vulnerability and to maximize capital investment.

A combination of low mortality and fertility is a critical element for harnessing the demographic dividend, whilst child mortality rates in Africa have declined, fertility rates have remained high, with a continental average of 4.7 (World Population Prospects 2015 Revision). In some Africa countries, the fertility rate stands as high as 7.6. These phenomena give rise to high youth dependency rates and manifest themselves in many other challenges as there are limited resources to adequately invest in the development of each individual.

On the Health and Socio-economic consequences of illicit drugs on youth as alluded to earlier, a major objective of AU Agenda 2063 is to unleash the full potential of African Youth and women to boost socio-economic development. It is estimated that 68 of Africa’s Population is under age 30. That Youth can be critical agents for positive socio-economic change if appropriate investments are made and their rights to education, employment are made and their rights realized, in order to unleash their power to innovate and become productive citizens. Alternatively youth could turn into an army of employed youth which may increase social risks and tension. These and many more are within the rationale of the meeting.

Other highlights include presentations and discussions on Health Population and Drugs control, Briefing on opportunities and challenges on Human Resources for health, the milestones towards the setting up of the African Medicines Agency (AMA), sustainable school feeding and nutrition initiative implications for harnessing Africa’s Demographic dividend recommended that the maternal, newborn and Child Health Task Force prepare a Biennial Maternal, Newborn, and child health status Report up to 2030 in order to ensure political support. The Committee further decided  that the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Task Force ensures that Adolescent health is given more prominence in subsequent Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health status Reports.

The Experts meeting considered the 2017 Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health 2017 Report and observed the need for the Commission to enrich the Report by including the AU Commission’s ability to mobilize political support and leadership to end preventable maternal, child and newborn deaths through the AU campaign frame work to ending child marriage as good practice, highlighting the issues of conflicts and health emergencies such as Ebola,Zika and its negative impacts on maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health on the continent. Other recommendation was on Good governance and conflict prevention to mitigate the negative impact of conflict on maternal, Newborn, Child health and Adolescent health on the continent

The meeting was attended by delegates from the AU Member States: Algeria, Angola, Congo, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Comoros, Egypt, Eriteria, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Kenya, Lesotho, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, South Africa, The Sudan, South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and the United Republic of Guinea.

LAB secures release of 2 school kids

The Legal Aid Board has secured the discharge of two school pupils in less than twenty-four hours. One of the school kids standing trial for robbery with violence was discharge on Thursday, 30 March 2017. He was arrested in Waterloo in March. He claimed to have spent seven days at the Waterloo Police Station before the matter was charged to court. 

He made his first appearance at the Waterloo Magistrate court on 14 March 2017. He was denied bail and the matter was remitted to Juvenile Court No. 8 in Freetown where he was represented by the Board’s Juvenile Lawyer, Joel Deen-Tarwally.

On March 28, Lawyer Deen-Tarawally made an application for discharge on the grounds that the boy is below fourteen years and therefore cannot be held criminally responsible for his actions. The application was denied. At the same time, the Magistrate ordered an age assessment. Bail application was also granted.

The age assessment result presented in court on March 30 revealed that the boy is between the age of 12 and 13. Lawyer Deen-Tarawally therefore applied for discharge of the boy pursuant to Section 70 of the Child Rights Act 2007. The application was granted by Magistrate Otto During.   

The boy is a primary school pupil from Lungi. He was tracked at the Dems Juvenile Home in Kingtom during routine monitoring by Joseph Turay, a Social Worker with Defence for Children International. Joseph was able to trace the boy’s family in Lungi. He also approached the Legal Aid Board for legal assistance.

The Board also secured the discharge of a child from Tombo who was charged with sexual penetration. The child spent nine days in the adult cell at the Tombo Police Station before the matter was charged on the 23 February 2017. He spent over two months on remand and made four appearances in Court No. 8 before he was discharged for want of prosecution on March 29. He was also represented by Lawyer Deen-Tarawally.

During pre-discharge brief, the Executive Director of the Legal Aid Board, Ms. Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles encouraged the children to waste no time in returning school when they reunite with their families. ‘Education should be your number one priority as a child,’ she said. She called on relevant agencies to play their part in rehabilitating the children. 

World Autism Awareness Day

Press Release

Dear Editor:

We are inspired by the people around the world that are speaking out for acceptance and inclusion of Autistic children in society! Yes, that’s what you and I want for every person on the autism spectrum disorders to be valued members of society, respected and admired for their neurodiverse way of thinking.

We know that you are working hard in the media to inform the country as we too are, to raise the awareness to make sure that this happens in our lifetime! The ninth annual World Autism Awareness Day is Sunday April 2, 2017. Every year, autism day is celebrated around the world with unique fundraising and awareness-raising events.

In Sierra Leone, Autism is silent but it is real, and for the first time, we are waking up everyone to stand up and join to campaign to change the story.  World Autism Awareness Day speaks about the prevalence and significance of the autism epidemic world-wide.

In recognition of this occasion and to increase awareness of the autism epidemic, STOP IT-Sierra Leone is launching the Day on Saturday 1^st April, 2017 at its head office on 17 of Kingharman Road in Brookfields, Freetown.

On April 1^st we will read a proclamation to “implement the ideals of World Autism Awareness Day in Sierra Leone until we set up a Child Development Centre”. Please join us in a press conference on 1^st April, 2017 at 17 Off Kingharman Road, Brookfields to bring this issue to the limelight it needs for attention and action in our country.

John Koroma                                                                                                                                          Founder and Executive Director

+232-76-482792 +232-30717611

Head Office: Ground Floor, East Wing, 17off Kingharman Road, Brookfields, Freetown, Sierra Leone; Tel+232-76-482792; +232-30-717611;Email:stopitsierraleone@yahoo.com

National eHealth coordination hub launched

By Kadrie Koroma

The Ministry of Health and Sanitation in collaboration with the Information and Communications Ministry has officially launched its National eHealth Coordination Hub at the Shangri-La Hotel, Aberdeen in Freetown.

Making his statement, the Chief Medical Officer, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Brima Kargbo described the event as a timely and relevant initiative, particularly with the rapid expansion in the use of Information, Communication Technology (ICT) for health in the country since the Ebola outbreak.

He reiterated that the initiative is led by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation in partnership with the Ministry of Information and Communications and supported by UNICEF with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Dr. Kargbo told his audience that the eHealth Coordination Hub is being established specifically to help coordinate and regulate the many digital health initiative that are currently being deployed in Sierra Leone, adding that it will entail an on-going inclusive, consultative process involving a wide range of stakeholders.

He noted that the eHealth Coordination Hub is a joint coordination and regulatory body to ensure that all digital health initiative in Sierra Leone are aligned with national health priorities and are deployed in a sustained manner in order to contribute towards building a strong and resilient health system.

Earlier, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer 11, Dr. Amara Jambai in his remarks described the eHealth as the future of health care delivery, with the potential to fast-track country health reform towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Universal Health Care (UHC), adding that the initiative will help to strengthen the health information systems and support the delivery of high quality health care services at large.

The Director of Communications, Ministry of Information and Communications, Bakarr Tarawally said part of his Ministry’s mission is to support the work of government to develop the ICT sector in Sierra Leone. He said it will enable the deployment of information systems that can support the effective delivery of services to all the citizens of Sierra Leone.

He said investing and developing the ICT sector and services in Sierra Leone can provide the government with some of the tools needed to help address challenges that may be faced by the health sector in Sierra Leone.

Mr. Tarawally stated that the Information Ministry’s vision clearly shared with the Health Ministry to ensure that the citizen have access to timely, accurate, clear and objective information on national and international issues of relevance.

The Deputy Chief of Mission, United States Embassy, Laurie Meininger described eHealth as a rapidly growing field that is becoming an increasingly invaluable tool for strengthening health systems in developing countries.

She said the 2014-2015 Ebola outbreaks in West Africa brought global attention to the weak state of health systems in the three most affected countries including Sierra Leone.

The Deputy Chief of Mission disclosed that since the end of the epidemic, the U.S. Government has made over $3 million worth of investment in eHealth and health information systems strengthening in Sierra Leone.

She reiterated that a well-developed and well-utilized eHealth ecosystem can help address many of the challenges faced by health systems in low-income and developing countries.

Laurie Meininger said the launch of eHealth with the establishment of a government led coordinating and regulatory mechanism is a step in the right direction, especially the growing importance of eHealth in global health.

The UNICEF Representative, Geoff Wiffin said digital health has the potential to be a game change for Sierra Leone in addressing the critical challenges faced by the health system and increasing the availability and quality of the health services.

Other highlights include key statement by the Director of Policy, Planning and Information, Dr. Samuel Kargbo and presentation on the eHealth Coordination Hub by Research Specialist Edward Foday of the same Directorate.