World Vision helping needy children in Bumpe Ngao

There was a scene of extravaganza, cultural drumming and dancing, following the official handing over ceremony of facilities focused on the well-being of children by World Vision Sierra Leone to chiefdom administration, local councils and government representatives.

The project was made possible with funds provided by World Vision Hong Kong and Taiwan which is making a huge difference in the lives of thousands of vulnerable children in remote communities accessed only through ‘strenuous’ means.

Because many of the children are faced with harsh rural life, construction and rehabilitation of schools and health centers are among the key priorities of most of the communities.

World Vision Sierra Leone through its Area Development Programme (ADP) in the Bumpe Ngao Chiefdom Bo District has provided solar light, water supply and 300 hospital bed linings to the Serabu Catholic Hospital and also re-constructed schools and health posts at Walihun village to complement the government of Sierra Leone in achieving quality education and health care delivery.

The National Director of World Vision Sierra Leone (WVSL) Jennifer Harold was thrilled by the enthusiasm of locals in jointly implementing projects with her NGO.

She said “parents should invest in the education of their children in good health for a brighter future.”

The Director said health remains a challenge to the world, and called on partners to be steadfast in combating infant mortality rate as 15per cent of the National budget should be spent on health care according to the Abuja protocol.

She assured the large gathering that they are working side by side with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation to improve education and health facilities that offers dignity to needy children.

She said there is growing need for trained and qualified doctors and nurses at hospitals across the country, but suggested for more training opportunities for health professionals.

The National Director of WVSL reiterated her call on Community elders and stakeholders present at the handing over ceremonies of the health and education facilities to monitor the facilities with a sense of ownership.

Dr. AB Kargbo the only local Doctor at the Serabu Hospital said the hospital was devastated during the war but with the help of Germans and World Vision Sierra Leone the hospital is now fully operational.

Paul Mackavoray of Caritas Bo joined the matron and other hospital staff in expressing gratitude to World Vision for providing water through gravity and Solar light at night.

He said the intervention of world vision has created meaningful impact on the lives of many in the chiefdom and its surroundings in the areas of health and education.

Ambrose Smith Development Management Committee (DMC) chair’s a carefully selected group of stakeholders, with a mission to facilitate development in Bumpe Ngao.

He gave a brief background of the Serabu Area Development Programme of World Vision Sierra Leone a medium and long–term people driven project model, which gives beneficiaries the free hand to work with partners in the implementation of projects for sustainability and sense of ownership.

 World Vision Sierra Leone Area Development Programme Manager in charge of Bumpe Ngao Chiefdom, Ambrose Fomba, said they strive to support deprived children in remote areas through sponsorship programs which remain the focus of the entire operations of World Vision.

Handing over of three hundred bed linings to Serabu Hospital Management and a conducted tour of the hospital formed a highpoint of the ceremony which was chaired by Bridget Mamie Oneil.

Meanwhile a new school building for Ahmmadiya Primary School with three class rooms, furniture, office, store, teacher’s quarter with toilets and water facilities and a Community Health Post was also handed over to stakeholders and development partners at Walihun Village in the Bumpe Ngao Chiefdom few miles from Serabu.

Chief Lansana Kaitibi of Walihun village said in the past our children go to the school but ends up sitting on bricks, broken benches on a dusted floor of a mud hut roofed with sticks and thatches for classes, but today the chief said “World Vision has transformed the school creating an instant increment of school enrollment.”

Samuel Konde gave an overview of the project and called on the government to ensure the smooth running of the school and the health center for the delivery of quality education.

Cutting of tape for the school and health post and a conducted tour of the facilities with drumming and dancing in appreciation of world vision remarkable projects thrilled the World Vision team.

 The delegation comprised of the National Director Jennifer Harold, Tommy Nyamawa Admin Director, Catharine Sillah Acting Base Manager Bo, Ambrose Fomba ADP Manager Bumpe and Serabu and Francis Gbondo Technical Coordinator Water and Sanitation of World Vision.

Residents of Walihun Village in Bumpe Ngao Chiefdom honor World Vision staff for constructing a school with a staff quarter, health post, and water and sanitation facilities .

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