By Alhaji Haruna Sani
In a determined effort to combat cardiovascular-related deaths and raise national awareness about hypertension and diabetes, Love Your Heart Salone has officially launched a life-saving healthcare campaign in the Mongegba community.
Spearheaded by Reverend Dr. Joseph Mojoko Koroma, the initiative began with the donation of blood pressure (BP) machines to residents of Mongegba and surrounding areas. The launch event gathered key stakeholders, faith leaders from the Baptist and Wesleyan churches, media representatives, and community members.
Addressing attendees, Reverend Dr. Joseph S. Fornah underscored the alarming rise in hypertension and diabetes-related deaths in Sierra Leone. He stressed the urgent need for public education on the dangers of these silent killers and praised Rev. Koroma for his commitment to giving back to his homeland after years of service in the United States.
“You are not truly educated until your knowledge positively impacts your community,” Fornah remarked, commending Koroma as a model of servant leadership.
The campaign seeks to engage churches, media houses, civil society organizations, and local communities to spread awareness about hypertension and diabetes, emphasizing early detection and effective management.
Rev. Dr. Joseph Mojoko Koroma, CEO of Love Your Heart Salone, is an experienced healthcare professional with a distinguished career in the United States. Since 2023, he has served at the Health and Vascular Care Consultant Hospital in Philadelphia and has held various leadership roles in the medical field, including as a registered nurse, hospital supervisor, and assistant director of nursing. His expertise extends beyond healthcare, with notable pastoral experience and advanced academic qualifications, including a Master of Science in Nursing, a Master of Divinity, an MBA in Economic Development, and ongoing Ph.D. studies in Nursing.
Speaking at the event, Rev. Koroma shared his personal motivation for launching the initiative, citing the devastating impact of undiagnosed hypertension on his loved ones. He described high blood pressure as a “silent killer,” noting that many individuals experience no symptoms before fatal complications arise.
Koroma highlighted research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American College of Cardiology, which suggests that blood pressure readings taken in clinics tend to be artificially elevated due to anxiety. He emphasized the need for home-based monitoring as a more accurate solution, reinforcing his mission to ensure that Sierra Leoneans have access to BP machines at no cost or affordable rates.
“I want Sierra Leoneans to have access to BP machines at no cost or at an affordable rate,” Koroma stated. “We can no longer afford to lose lives due to ignorance and misdiagnosis often linked to superstition.”
He further pointed to poor dietary habits and stress as significant contributors to hypertension, particularly in low-income communities. Expressing gratitude to his church and medical colleagues in the U.S. for their support, Koroma announced that this initiative marks the beginning of a long-term campaign to improve heart health nationwide.
Community leaders voiced their appreciation for the campaign, with Pa Alimamy, Chief of Mongegba, describing it as “awesome and life-saving.” He stressed that poverty, limited food options, and lack of awareness are exacerbating health challenges in the area.
Adding a national perspective, Dr. Joseph Kamara revealed that between 25% to 50% of Sierra Leoneans—an estimated 2 to 4 million people—suffer from hypertension. He advocated for a national health insurance scheme to tackle “medical poverty,” which affects more than 60% of the population.
Rev. Solomon Sesay, Assistant National Superintendent of the Wesleyan Church, officially launched the campaign, echoing calls for increased public awareness and preventative measures against these deadly yet preventable diseases.
Closing the event, Rev. Osman Jesse Fornah, Secretary General of the Inter-Religious Council of Sierra Leone, prayed for ongoing donor support and encouraged the campaign’s expansion across all religious communities.
As Love Your Heart Salone embarks on its nationwide mission, the initiative calls on health organizations, civil society, and other partners to join forces in the fight against hypertension and diabetes, fostering a healthier and more informed Sierra Leone.