The lives people live in Kroobay are not good; no latrines or clean drinking water, and the environment is not conducive for human beings. These were the exact words of Chief Pa Alimamy Kargbo Bampa in an exclusive interview with Awoko.
“I have the interest of the people in my community,” he said, “and if I have the money, power and support I plan to turn Kroobay to England.”
Chief Kargbo Bampa disclosed that people live there in sorry conditions: No jobs, lack of market for women and even youth employment.
The chief noted that people also lack sufficient sleep in their houses, especially when it rains, saying, “The rain disturbs and destroys lives and property of people.”
People he said use the river as their latrines and that same river is used by people to wash and children used to swim in it.
There are no government toilet facilities in the community; the one that was built by PLAN is damaged.
He disclosed that, because of the way the houses are built in Kroobay there is no access place to build latrines, kitchens and when diarrhea hits the community it has a severe effect on the people; But with the help of the health care built it reduced the rates.
Other sickness that is common is malaria, dysentry, eye problem, cold and cough and worms said the Chief.
He called on government and other agencies to support his community and also help improve the health facilities for the people.
The overflowing of water, he said, is a result of the Lightfoot Boston bridge that connects Lightfoot Boston Street to the community it punishes people because the bridge is low and there is not enough space for the water to move freely.
Pa Alimamy Kargbo Bampa stated that, if government banks ‘Borbor Kombor’ bridge and ‘Korkor’ river towards Kingtom bridge then there will be no flooding in the community.
The nurse in the health centre Adama Bangura said that, the center gets support from the government and other Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) like Save the Children and Concern Worldwide.
She disclosed that: malaria, diarrhea, vomiting and ARI are the cases they treat frequently in the center, noting that people are responding to treatment and at least 8- 10 people both general and under-fives come for treatment.
Nurse Bangura disclosed that “there is no electricity in the center” and that they “use lamp and candles for delivery”.
Asked how many nurses are there she replied that there are about six nurses working on one shift and that they only have one bed at the center which is insufficient to serve over hundreds of people.
She pointed out that, they charge people according to the drugs they buy and at times we refer cases beyond our control.
Highlighting some of her constraints, Nurse Bangura said that, the environment is not suitable for her to live as there are gambling ground and playing field back of the center.
The Nurse revealed that the toilet facilities are not in good conditions and is not functional as they use the floor of the toilet to urinate.
Meanwhile she said Save the Children and Concern Worldwide are trying to restructure the center.
By Abibatu Kamara
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