Press Release

The Cotton Tree Medical Group, a social enterprise company which operates in Freetown on Thursday April 2^nd 2020, donated 500 pieces of N95 to the Government of Sierra Leone through the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

Welcoming the Cotton Tree Medical Group and Representatives of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the handing over ceremony which was held in the Directors’ Conference Room at the Ministry, the newly appointed Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mrs. Florence Nyawa Bangalie said the donation had come in at a time when the country had recorded its second case of the Coronavirus infection. The donation she said was an indication that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is committed to the efforts of government in the fight against the COVID-19 Virus. She maintained that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had communicated to all its Missions abroad requesting all Sierra Leoneans and Governments to assist the country with protective equipment in the prevention and fight against the dreadful disease.

In his brief remarks, the Director of Asia who is also the Chairman of the COVID-19 Task Force at the Foreign Ministry, Mr. Wiston T. Yankuba stated that the donation was indeed an important gesture as its came in when WHO had declared COVID-19 as a pandemic.

Representing the Owner and CEO of the Cotton Tree Medical Group and a Sierra Leonean based in Washington DC, Dr. Fouad Sheriff, Mr. Alfred M. Jamiru said that the donation was done in light of the world pandemic of COVID-19 and the company’s commitment to help Sierra Leone battle against the dreaded virus. He commended the efforts of the Government in putting out preventive measures earlier. Mr. Jamiru further stated that as a Medical company, they want to ensure that health professionals have the right personal protective gears they needed to prevent them from being victims of the virus while helping in the various communities. He concluded by appealing that the donation made be distributed to frontline workers, such as Community Health Officers, Nurses and Doctors; while stating their commitment to doing their part to keep Sierra Leoneans safe and healthy.

In his response on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Nabella Farida Tunis, the Deputy Minister, Solomon Jamiru Esq thanked the company on behalf of the Government and people of Sierra Leone for the timely donation. He spoke about Government’s efforts in the fight to prevent the virus from entering the country. He went on to reiterate that, now that the country had recorded two cases, the Government has mounted up more robust measures in combating its spread. He called on other Sierra Leoneans to emulate such gestures in aiding the fight against the dreadful virus in the country.

Receiving the donation from the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Deputy Secretary at the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Philip D. Kargbo on behalf of his Ministry applauded the company for its kind gesture and assured that the N95 Face Masks would be made available to the intended beneficiaries.

(MFAIC Press Office Freetown)