With support from the Malaria Control Program of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation,Prison Watch Sierra Leone on Monday August 24th 2020 donated hundreds insecticide treated bed nets to inmates of the Female Correctional Facility in Freetown New England at the former Special Court facility.
Amidst singing and dancing at the Freetown female correctional centre, Prison Watch Sierra Leone entered the premises to donate treated bed nets which they believe is long lasting.
The donation was witnessed by correctional and military personnel attached to the Centre and the media.
Making the donation, Prison Watch Sierra Leone Programme Manager, Ahmed Salieu Jalloh, said that the bed nets are coming as a result of request from the inmates.
He said Malaria is a dangerous disease which is caused by the female anopheles mosquitoes.
“The bed nets will now protect inmates from contracting,” he declared, emphasizing that the donated bed nets are for the female inmates across the country. “We know this is small, but we believe it serves a good number of the inmates in various centres across the country,” he said.
He advised the inmates to make very good use of the nets.
The Commanding Officer, Sierra Leone Correctional service, Mrs. Irene Sesay received the donated nets and thanked Prison Watch for their kindness, and commended the Organization for being always ready to respond positively to their request for assistance.
“Mosquitoes will no longer bite the inmates and we hope and pray that the partnership with Prison Watch Continues. Prison watch is always in our midst and they continue to give a helping hand to the centre,” she said.
The Military Representative attached to the correctional service, Colonel Sahr David Ngaoja, in his statement expressed happiness over donation and thanked the management in-charge of the female centre for maintaining a clean and tidy facility in which inmates are always happy.
“This place is always clean and the inmates are always cheerful. I am extremely happy that female inmates are prayerful and they always welcome visitors with gospelsongs and songs of inspiration. This shows that inmates are undergoing reforms,” he said.
He encouraged the management of the centre to continue the good work and to also maintain the cleanliness within.
Colonel Ngaoja called on Prison Watch to continue the partnership and the good in support the Sierra Leone Correctional Service.
“Your partnership and support has always come handy and this means a lot to the agency. You might not know what these support are doing but let me tell you that the little support you continue to give is the reason why sanity is maintained in most of our centrse,” he concluded.
Giving the vote of thanks inmate FatouThoronka (Not her real name) thanked Prison Watch for the donation noting that the organization has always come to their aid whenever they make requests.
“We are happy because you always listen to our cry. Your support over the years gives us hope and we know that you care for us. We will continue to pray for you so that you will continue to progress and do more for us,” she said.
This latest support of mosquito nets was made available by the Malaria Control Programme at the Ministry of Health and Sanitation facilitated by Prison Watch.
By Mohamed Konneh
25/08/2020. ISSUE NO: 7894