On Ebola recovery package CRC calls for nationwide sensitization

The National Coordinator of the Sierra Leone Civil Right Coalition, Alfonso Manley, is calling on the government to carry out a nation-wide sensitization and awareness raising on the details of the Ebola recovery package.

He made this call during an interview with this press to voice out the views of youths on the new development agenda. According to Alphonso Manley, there are gaps at the initial stage of creating the document, as the process of drafting the document failed. It should have started with a nationwide consultation, as even the last farmer in the village is affected by the outbreak. Presently the number of illiterate people in the country is very high and most of them do not understand what are some of the benefits for them in the document

. During the height of the outbreak, most of these people lost all their capital and source of livelihood. Speaking further on the new Ebola recovery plan, the National Coordinator of SLCRC, stated that, since the plan targets four thematic areas, health, education, social protection and recovery of the business sector, the government must try to go over the entire health system in the country, as the outbreak exposed weakness in the health system both in administration and logistics, adding that transparency, cleanliness, training and workers welfare must be the top priorities in that area.

He also threw light on the need to develop and improve on areas like the water and sanitation, good education standard, by reviewing the 2004 education Acts, sustainable electricity and also to pay keen attention to social safety nets for survivors and orphans. On the area of Youth employment and empowerment, Alphonso Manley noted the youth of this country have the talent and zeal to do different works and therefore urged the government to provide them with support, some with direct financial support base on a good business plan. He also urged the educational authorities to provide more empowerment program through the establishment of innovative academic program in technical areas such as IT, entrepreneurship skills training, youth participation in governance and various other skills, rather than just focusing on ancient courses at some Universities. Furthermore, he advised other local organisation to work together and always fits their program in-line with the national ebola recovery plan so that they come up with duplicating projects. ” we have accepted the document for what it is. so let take it as it is”, he said. Manley urged the President the give full backing to the Anti Corruption commission so that they will be able to minimized the level of corruption in the administering of this fund. Over One billion Leone have already been pledge toward the plan.

By Ayodele Deen Cole
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