The Kenema District Council (KDC) with support from EU has handed over food and non-food items to the District Emergency COVID 19 Response Centre (DiCOVERC) in response to a call for assistance. Formally handing over the items to the DiCOVERC Coordinator, the Chairman of the Kenema District Council, Mohamed “O”Level Sesay, said the assorted items form part of the EU’s support to the Kenema District Council.
He described the doctors and nurses as frontline fighters, adding there is no amount of money enough for their sacrifice in the fight against COVID-19. Chairman Sesay thanked the medical team for their robust role in fighting the disease and called on all to continue adhering to the COVID-19 rules and regulations. In his statement, the Chief Administrator of the Kenema District Council, Ahmed Shekuba Koroma, described the day as historic in the lives of council members.
He said the Kenema District Council was nominated as one of the councils to benefit from the EU grant, which is a move in support of civil society and local authorities for local development in Sierra Leone He disclosed the title of the donation as “Empower Kenema District Council for efficient service delivery to the district”. The Chief Administrator furthered that the specific objectives of the implementation of the project behooves the Kenema District Council to improve institutional capacity to deliver on its core mandate and response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
He said citizens in Kenema District are reached with improved and sustainable services in agriculture, infrastructure development, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and COVID-19. Kenema District Council’s revenue base has increased through enhanced revenue collection, management and generation/investment, he added. CA Koroma said reaching this level is the direct result of the central government’s ongoing efforts in the implementation of the fight against COVID-19.
He further revealed that there are still outstanding activities for the fight, including creation of a database, display of COVID-19 ICT materials, dissemination of COVID-19 messages, use of telecommunications, among others. He said the items delivered to DiCOVERC Kenema cost over Le350 million and are meant for quarantine homes and treatment centres in the district. Receiving the consignment on behalf of DiCOVERC, the District Coordinator, Umaru Vandi Kondovoh, thanked the council and EU for their continued support in the COVID-19 fight.
On behalf of the response team, he said they are always part of every arrangement concerning their work, especially at the planning stage where they make known what they need on behalf of the affected people. He said government cannot do everything alone, adding that whatever assistance DiCOVERC receives is appreciated by all, and asked for more support.
He assured all that the items will reach the intended beneficiaries and called on the media to always tell the public what has been given to DiCOVERC on behalf of the people. The donated items included rice, water tanks and pedals, thermometers, mattresses, blankets, batteries, Cerelac baby food, among others.
Resident Minister East, Hon. Andrew Ansu Fatorma, assured all of government’s continued support to the nation, and called on all to be law abiding at all times by adhering to the dictates of the medics.