Sierra Leone gets more support from Germany
Sierra Leone Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany, H E Jongopie S. Stevens has continued to make President Koroma’s vision to transform the lives of the people a reality. The career diplomat is not only working in the interest of Sierra Leoneans living in Germany, but also ensuring that the people in Sierra Leone benefit from the long standing relationship that exist between Germany and Sierra Leone. (Photo: Ambassador Stevens formerly receiving the machine from Mr. Kammann)
This was proven when Ambassador Stevens received a solar powered water treatment machine, donated by a German Company, Medical Medizintechnik for the people of Sierra Leone Monday 14.
Medical Medizintechnik is a company producing medical chairs with a worldwide distribution of approximately 4,000 products a year in the north western town of Kirchlingern in Germany.
Speaking shortly after the presentation of the machine, Ambassador Stevens reiterated the bilateral relationship established between Germany and Sierra Leone in several areas which include among other things, sanitation, youth employment, micro-finance, and capacity building. He said the significance of the gesture made by Medical Medizintechnik to assist the government of Sierra Leone in providing safe-drinking water for the people of Sierra Leone is not to be over emphasized, adding that “…this single act will contribute to the saving of many lives in Sierra Leone.”
Ambassador Stevens highlighting his government's priorities admist Mayor Ruediger Meier, Mr Kammann and Manfred Lederer extreme left
Considering the fact that safe drinking-water is a powerful environmental determinant of health, Ambassador Stevens reaffirmed that drinking-water safety is a foundation for the prevention and control of waterborne diseases-a primary factor leading to the vulnerability through cholera, typhoid and diarrhea in the country. Many homes in Sierra Leone, he went on, do not enjoy the facility of a pipe born and safe drinking water. He maintained that, the APC-led government under the leadership of Ernest Bai Koroma has made it possible within the framework of its development strategy and medium term reform priorities to lay the ground to improve the lives of the people and make Sierra Leone what he called “a haven” for all through the provision of basic necessities for its people. He further catalogued his government efforts in the successful implementation of several development programmes in the areas of infrastructure, energy, agriculture, health and sanitation among others. Ambassador Stevens concluded by thanking Medical Medizintechnik and the people of Kirchlengern in particular for the thoughtful and humane act.
Welcoming the Ambassador and his entourage in the community of Kirchlengern, Mayor Ruediger Meier said the purpose of the water purification machine is to enable the people of Sierra Leone get access to clean and safe drinking water. He disclosed that the idea to help the people of Sierra Leone came after examining the work of Driving –YMCA – Doctor for Sierra Leone under the tutelage of a German and Kirchlingern native, Susanne Schroeder.
The Driving –YMCA – Doctor for Sierra Leone was launched together with YMCA in Sierra Leone, to provide basic medical care to pregnant women, lactating mothers and children under five in the rural areas of Sierra Leone.
Mayor Meier said, the work of the Driving – YMCA – Doctors in Sierra Leone is very impressive which is why they as a community have decided to join the band wagon in providing assistance to the people of Sierra Leone. He expressed hope that the facility will be properly utilized for its intended purpose.
Ambassador Stevens and his wife examining the machine
Making his statement before the handing over ceremony, the head of Medical Medizintechnik, Michael Kammann registered his company’s willingness to assist the people of Sierra Leone noting that, his company which has been in full operation since 1982 is producing high quality and reliable medical chairs for both the national and international market.
Mr. Kammann said, the need to provide basic and clean water system is imperative which is why he believed that the people of Sierra Leone should enjoy such facility in an effort to halve the problem of water born diseases in the country.
The producer of the machine, Manfred Lederer demonstrated to the audience how to use the machine and its compatibility. He said the machine works together with a solar powered system and could provide water for at least 400 people per day.
Mr. Lederer said he has an establishment in Botswana, Haiti, Mali and other parts of Africa. He has opted to go to Sierra Leone and train people how to use the machine.
Umaru S. Jah – Berlin, Germany
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