Port Loko Diasporans to Transform Homeland

Concord Times (Freetown)

Amadu Daramy

13 June 2011

Maryland — As was the case during the war years when Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora came to the aid of their less fortunate compatriots, the trend has continued in terms of financial and technical assistance to develop their homeland.

On Saturday 4th June 2011, the Maforki Development Association, Washington Metropolitan Chapter, organized a grand launching fundraising dinner and dance at The DAYS INN HOTEL on 2700 New York Avenue, Washington DC with Dr. Francis I. Dumbuya as Guest of Honour. The President of the Maforki Development Association (MDA), Mrs. Khadija Kabba Beatty (aka) Baby Jalloh, thanked all for attending the event which she stressed was a collective effort of her executive and members who were determined to salvage the deplorable state of Port Loko.

She also noted that the executive has re-invented its strategy by sensitizing current members as well as attracting new ones to the organization about the need for them to contribute to the development of their homeland.

According to Khadija Kabba Beatty, “Port Loko town is in dire need of help. Therefore, we need the assistance of all indigenes to reverse its decline. The school facilities are in a deplorable state, the learning environment is not conducive as the schools lack teaching and learning materials in addition to the absence of equipment and furniture and the poor road network the pupils use to commute to and from school.”

She lamented that the only hospital in the township was in a terrible state with no mattresses on the beds, which he underlined can be attributed to the increase in the death rate and highlighted the absence of sound policies and procedures at the hospital.

According to the president of MDA, patients lie down on the bare floor or provide their own beddings. She added that the laboratory has no refrigerators to store or process blood or other specimens and pointed out that the reagents were outdated with no infection control or guidelines.

“Infant and maternal mortality rates keep increasing due to the lack of health care providers. This is the same situation in the education and other sectors,” she asserted and highlighted the need for an aggressive approach to address these issues.

She assured that she has committed members who were determined to ensure that the welfare of patients was of top priority by engaging them, conducting education sessions, health fairs, in-service trainings, diet teaching, managing hypertensions and diabetes and indentifying patients at risk to prevent chronic conditions.

Mrs. Khadija Kabba Beatty further disclosed that the organization’s theme is a story teller, “Be Intentional and be a Sustainer’ which is an opportunity for growth.

She concluded that members of the organization would communicate through emails and the website to coordinate with other sister chapters to fast-track the development of their homeland.

In his address, Dr. Francis I. Dumbuya thanked members and the executive for their sincere commitment, commended the president for her inspiring and thought-provoking message and appealed to all to assist in the education of their less-fortunate compatriots.

Dr. Dumbuya recalled the past when parents afforded school fees unlike now and admonished all to be generous and disclosed that proceeds from the sale of his book would go towards the fundraising event.

Other speakers at the ceremony included the president of the Maforki Development Association, Ohio Chapter, Idriss Mansaray while the Secretary General, Saddah Kabba earlier introduced the Guest of Honour.

Duljah Conteh was the soloist who sang the Sierra Leone and United States of America National Anthems.

Other members of the executive are the Vice President, Mr. Abu Bakarr Sillah; Secretary General, Mrs. Saddah Raddah Kabba; Assistant Secretary General, Mr. Lansana Kamara; Treasurer, Mr. Unisa Bangura; Financial Secretary, Mrs. Seray Kabba Monya; Organizing Secretary, Mr. Alhaji Bangura; Assistant Organizing Secretary, Mr. Alimamy Sapateh; Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ronald Sesay and Whips, Mr. Abu Bakarr Kabba and Mr. Adams Mansaray.

President of MDA, Khadija Kabba Beatty was born and raised in Port Loko, had her early education at the Sierra Leone Church School, Port Loko and the Saint Mary’s Elementary School in Freetown.

While in the United States of America, she graduated with a High School Diploma from TC Williams High School.

In 1992, she graduated as a LPN, with an associate degree in Applied Science from Virginia Community College. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from George Mason University where she is currently pursuing her Master of Science degree.

Khadija Kabba Beatty has been a healthcare provider for the past twenty years and has served as a Clinician. She is currently a Nurse Manager at the Nova Mount Vernon Hospital and is a member of the adjunct Howard University.

A special performance by the comedian, Ismail Sesay who thrilled the audience to ecstasy, climaxed the event.

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