By Saio Marrah
The Sick Pikin International Project has been bestowed with an award for its outstanding contributions towards medical charity in Sierra Leone. The award was presented by the Afro Arts Production in the United Kingdom (UK).
The Afro Arts Production is a registered UK-based community initiative that seeks to recognize the efforts of outstanding Sierra Leoneans.
Co-Founder and Lead Campaigner of the Sick Pikin International Project, Ishmeal Alfred Charles, told Politico that the award was given to the organisation in London last Saturday.
Charles said: “Every time or anytime we win an award for a project of our kind it significantly means that we have been able to attract the heart and minds of people.”
He further elaborated by saying: “This time winning an award in the UK means our work had been seen and heard of not only within Sierra Leone. The sick pikin project benefits children in Sierra Leone… so it’s significant that the people who are donating in the UK get to know that this project is credible, it is doing what it is set up for.”
According to him, the award also brings visibility to them, which he said is very important to their cause.
The Sick Pikin International Project which is registered in the UK and the USA was set up in Sierra Leone four years ago. The objective is to help raise funds for poor and sick children with severe health complications whose families cannot afford the medical bills be it at home or abroad. The organisation facilitates sending most of the cases abroad to get specialized medical treatments that are needed to save their lives.
In some of their recent interventions, the organisation had been able to send four children to India for surgery.
“This is one of our largest groups of children in India for their surgeries,” noted Charles.
He expressed appreciation to the donors, the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, and the Government of Sierra Leone for providing the financial support needed.
The organisation noted in their recent newsletter that through various support they were able to raise funds for the surgery of Mary Ruth Koroma, a 14-months old that had been suffering from cyanosis congenital heart complications in India and her mother reported she is now well and had started attending school.
In a bid to get more sponsors for the work they do, he said the organisation will be conducting the Sick Pikin Marathon, which they described as a “run or walk for a good cause’’, which will take place on 17th December this year at 8 a.m.
Charles said he had earlier lobbied for visits by the medical Mercy ship to the country and disclosed it is due in Sierra Leone again in August 2023.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (28/09/22)
