AYV News, April 9, 2025
In a remarkable demonstration of compassion and commitment to child welfare, Pikin Bizness, a renowned philanthropic organization in Sierra Leone, has pledged full support for eight-month-old Mariama Juldeh Jalloh, who requires urgent heart surgery abroad. Diagnosed with a ventricular septal defect, Mariama Juldeh Jalloh is scheduled to travel to Toulouse, France, on June 10, 2025, via Conakry, Guinea, for the life-saving operation.
According to Dr. Adonis Abboud, Executive Director of PikinBizness, the baby will remain in France for two months following the operation for post-surgical observation and recovery before returning home to Sierra Leone. He also revealed that Mariama Juldeh Jalloh is the 41st child to benefit from the organization’s free overseas critical healthcare intervention program.
“Our commitment to these children goes beyond the operation. We maintain contact and track their recovery because we believe in long-term care and support. Thankfully, every surgery we have facilitated has been successful, with no recorded fatalities to date,” he affirmed.
Reflecting on the origins of Pikin Bizness, Dr. Adonis Abboud noted that the inspiration to establish the organization came in 1998 upon his return from Guinea, where the aftermath of Sierra Leone’s civil war had left countless children orphaned, handicapped and vulnerable. Since then, the organization has grown into a vital lifeline for children in dire medical need.
While commending the Government of Sierra Leone for strides in strengthening healthcare infrastructure, Dr. Adonis Abboud emphasized the urgent need for more medical specialists, particularly in cardiology, pediatrics and orthopedics. “Our hospitals have the equipment, but without the expertise, we cannot optimize their use,” he noted, encouraging recent graduates of the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences to remain in the country and serve where they are most needed.
Saudatu Barrie, Mariama Juldeh Jalloh’s mother, shared the emotional journey of seeking help for her daughter. Born sickly, she said her daughter was taken from their hometown of Kabala to Freetown for advanced medical assessment furthering how it was at Ola During Children’s Hospital that the family learned of Mariama’s heart condition.
“In our search for hope, someone referred us to Pikin Bizness. When I first met Dr. Adonis Abboud, Mariama was only five months old and he told us they could only assist children who are at least eight months. He gave me his word that once Mariama reached that age, they would help and he has kept that promise,” Saudatu Barrie recounted, noting with gratitude that no financial contribution was requested at any point in the process.
Though emotional about being separated from her child for two months during treatment, Saudatu Barrie expressed deep appreciation for the opportunity that now stands before her daughter. “It is not easy, but I will endure it. What matters most is that my daughter gets the chance to live a healthy life. Words cannot express the depth of my gratitude to PikinBizness,” she said.
Over the years, Pikin Bizness has worked in collaboration with esteemed international partners including Chain of Hope, La Chaîne de l’Espoir, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health to facilitate critical medical interventions for vulnerable children. The organization continues to serve as a beacon of hope, transforming lives one child at a time.
