Sierra Leone: Life Saving Society Chairman Calls For International Support To Address Mounting Challenges

By Ishmael Sallieu Koroma

Chairman & Principal of Sierra Leone Life Saving Society in Sierra Leone, Patrick Olumide Campbell, has said that due to the huge challenges their organization is facing they have not been able to fully function well as part of their mandate in the country thus urging the Coast Guard Auxiliary to propel their vision and mission in making the west African region a better atmosphere.

Speaking during the first virtual Regional Forum AFRICOM-EUCOM organised by the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Chairman of the society said that they were constrained with funding, technical and professional training for its society personnel whilst also commenting on government’s inability to support adequately with legislature that would strengthen recreational boating safety in the country.

‘’The Sierra Leone Life Saving Society wanted to improve their institutional capacity on recreational boating safety in Sierra Leone for the resultant dividends would deliver to our marine environment the protection and security needed would curb destructive fishing, prevent loss of lives and properties, provide safe marine environment, protect the interest of the international communities on maritime security and improve our SAR ability in Sierra Leone territorial waters and beyond,’’he lamented .

Patrick Olumide Campbell added that the lack of adequate equipment to support both training and operation coupled with the lack of government’s support on such initiative in terms of advocacy and policy drafting and implementation have also had an impact on their work but said they have been able to pull through with the little resources they have been harnessing.

The society chairman further added that the Sierra Leone Life Saving Society as an institution focuses on safety issues have been organizing series of training, workshop and seminars to government institutions and international organization such as European delegation in the country on first response basic skills, conference on drowning prevention, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training of Life guards and harbour masters in the West African nation.

‘’Project implementation with other institutions like training, workshop and seminars, advocacy, equipment, women in life saving and Safe schools program among others.  The society have involved volunteers young people ranging from local mariners, life guards, harbour masters, nurses and other professional such as medical doctors,’’ the chairman added.

Speaking on Illegal on Unregulated fishing in the country, the Chairman stated that, destructive fishing has cost the nation huge sum amounting to millions of dollars which he said would have been used to improve the nation’s wealth reserve.

‘’Due to lack of proper training on communication criminals are making the territorial water in Sierra Leone unsafe because they used the medium as source to transfer illicit drugs into Sierra Leone that turn young people to drug addict and other vices in the society. Therefore, in the context of Sierra Leone as a case study international partners need to support government institution and organizations on programs that aid effective outcome of recreational boating safety,’’ Chairman Campbell noted.