Africell presents 20,000 kilos of rice to Government
Africell (SL) Limited has on Friday 12th September made a presentation of the second consignment of food provision to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation for onward delivery to Ebola Epicenters, quarantined communities and other areas significantly affected by the Ebola epidemic. The presentation, which was done at the company 1 Pivot Street Headquarters, was in line with the initiative launched by its Chief Executive Officer, Shadi Gerjawi on 19th August 2014, to set aside Le1.00 (one Leone) for every minute spoken on the Africell network; to be used to provide food provision as part of the company’s continuing support to the Ebola campaign.
It can be recalled on Friday 29th August 2014, the company presented the first consignment of 22, 500 kilos of rice to the Ministry of Health and sanitation for delivery to Ebola Epicenters and quarantined communities in Kailahun, Kenema, Bombali, Tonkolili and Port Loko.
“We are today presenting the second consignment of 20, 000 kilos of rice for delivery to Epicenters and quarantined communities in Freetown, Makeni, Bo, Kailahun, Kenema, Port Loko and Moyamba,” says Joe Abass Bangura, Africell’s Chief Corporate Affairs Officer. The current presentation makes it a total of 42, 500 kilos (850 bags) that the company has provided in less than a month.
“We urge all Sierra Leoneans to be vigilant in following all the rules provided by health authorities to prevention infections; which are: regular washing of hands, avoid contact with sick people and people demonstrating the symptoms, avoid contact with dead bodies and people known to have died of the virus, and to call 117 for more details,” says Mr. Bangura, concluding that by providing information, funding and feeding, Africell is going all the way to contribute to closing the resource gaps and to ensure that the Ebola virus is defeated in the country.
The Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation II, Foday Sawi Lahai pointed out that the country is presently at cross roads, and that it is been threatened by the Ebola scourge. The epidemic, he said has also threatened the Agenda for Prosperity, thereby leading to other countries discriminating Sierra Leone at the international front. “We are bracing ourselves to fight against the Ebola virus. Government cannot do it alone, unless we have the public agreeing to join the fight we cannot succeed,” says the Deputy Minister, reiterating that he highly appreciates Africell for coming at a time the government is in need of so many partners to join the fight against Ebola. “It is now we know that Africell is a friend in need,” he added, concluding that the Ministry will monitor the distribution in other to ensure that the consignment reach the required beneficiaries.
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Chernor Maju Bah registered his appreciation to Africell, which he said is amongst many other partners that are helping the government fight against the epidemic. He pointed out that Ebola is still alive and so it requires collective effort to fight against it. “We must do postmortem on the dead and not those that are alive. All that is required for now is education and attention to stop the denial and show of sympathy,” he said. “We want to see loyal people helping to fight against Ebola. Let us turn our guns to Ebola and try to kill it,” says Hon. Bah. He reminded all and sundry that Sierra Leone is under State of Health Emergency, and so therefore everybody must abide by the laws of the land. He called on Sierra Leoneans to read Section 29 of the 1991 Constitution; and noted that those going around inciting people must stop immediately because the law is supreme. Those caught, he said will be severely dealt with.
By Apo Calvin Kay
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