By Politico Staff Writer
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Drive Safe Alliance, Massah K. Bomah has embarked on taking road safety messages to school children and teachers at UBC Primary school in Bo.
The sensitization marks this year’s UN Global road week with the theme: "Be a road safety Hero."
Addressing pupils and teachers at the school on 15th May this year, Bomah spoke of the many road accidents involving school children in which lives have been lost and others left with terminal pains.
“Motorbike riders and drivers hit our pupils when trying to cross the road,” she said.
She claimed to have sought the services of over 22 people mainly teachers and community people as volunteers in helping the pupils cross streets, in view of challenges posed by motorbike riders who hardly observe road signs.
She said her organization is faced with financial challenges as she uses her finances to keep the organization running, with other support coming from few friends and famil.
CEO Bomah noted that she intends to spread her organization to other parts of the country.
"Even when they see our volunteers wearing the high visibility vest trying to ensure the pupils cross the road, Okada (bike) riders don’t stop. I think this is bad and I want the authorities to intervene," she pleaded.
Bomah stated that their volunteers are not only limited to crossing pupils along busy roads but also go to public places where pupils attend functions to ensure they are safe in using the road.
She pointed out that part of the project is to ensure her organization gives out first aid treatment to pupils involved in accidents, training people on how to administer certain drugs before a victim is taken to hospital for further treatment.
"I am using this opportunity to plead to motorbike riders and drivers to stop over speeding. Many lives have gone," She said.
Massah has called on government to collaborate with the Drive Safe Alliance Sierra Leone as they need support to keep the organization going. She said Drive Safe Alliance will continue to give support to school pupils, amid the challenges.
Eunice Williams, a teacher of UBC Elbely Pre- School told Politico that Drive Safe Alliance had been engaging them on road safety for some time now. She said they had got many accidents in their communities, but confirmed that since the formation of the alliance, it has reduced.
"Only one pupil was involved in a road accident last year, and that child has started coming to school,” she said.
She called on parents to also teach their children how to walk across the road, and for Drive Safe Alliance to increase the number of volunteers helping pupils on the road.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (20/05/24)
