By Allieu Sahid Tunkara
Bollore, a transport and logistics company in Sierra Leone has donated hand washing materials worth millions of Leones to Moa Wharf and Sea Side communities.
The company handles shipment of cargo from abroad to Sierra Leone, and has been in operation for several years.
Veronica buckets, Milla tanks, chlorine, soap and other hygiene materials were among the donated materials to the communities.
The donor promised to ensure that the beneficiary communities practise hand washing and other preventive measures to halt the spread of the Corona virus.
Memuna Daramy is the Chief Finance Officer (CFO) for Bollore Company.
In her speech at the donation ceremony, CFO recognised the importance of the two communities noting that Bollore is part of them.
“This is not a private company helping a community, but Bollore is part of the community,” she said.
Daramy also told journalists that the company had been implementing, temperature checks and social distancing and other restrictive measures to cut off the chain of transmission of the Virus.
Ensuring that customers act in accordance with the Corona Virus preventive measures was also emphasised by the CFO.
“We make sure that customers comply with the rules in respect of the Corona Virus prevention. To halt the spread of the virus is the reason the company has donated to this highly infectious communities,” she said.
Daramy also assured the beneficiaries that the donated materials would be protected.
The Country Manager of Bollore Company, Captain Fabjanko Kokan was also present at the donation ceremony.
Kokan told the beneficiary communities that more donations would be made by the company.
“The donation today is just the first step, more donations are coming,” Kokan assured.
In his keynote address, he called on communities to act with unity and togetherness to defeat the Corona Virus.
“It is only when we act with solidarity that can we defeat the virus,” Kokan appealed.
Some dignitaries particularly women represented their communities at the donation ceremony.
Among them were the Chairman and the Section Chief of the communities, Lamin Bangura and Chief Alhaji Pa Alimamy Conteh.
In his contribution, Lamin Bangura appreciated the donated materials and thanked the donor.
He said the donation was timely in such a trying moment facing the country.
Also making his voice heard at the donation ceremony, Chief Pa Alimamy Conteh referred to the donation as the first to be undertaken by a company.
During the occasion, Chief Conteh appealed to the community residents to be law abiding and compliant with the hand washing and other rules pronounced by government.
“No one knows the danger side of the law until when one is trapped,” Chief Conteh warned.
Apart from the donation yesterday, Bollore has been supporting fishing activities in the beneficiary communities to improve livelihoods.
Fishing in those riverine communities is the key economic and livelihood activity among others.
Bollore’s support to the fishermen is one of the greatest corporate philanthropies to the communities who appreciate the donor.
Sierra Leone has, for the past two days, recorded a case of Corona Virus marking the beginning of a health disaster.
Fears are rife that other cases of Corona Virus would be detected.
President Julius Maada Bio has made a pronouncement confirming the case and called on Sierra Leoneans to adopt measures to prevent the spread.
Bollore’s donation of the hand washing materials is a response to the President’s call.