Handing over the items on behalf of the Priest of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, Houston USA, Reverend Johannes George and Yvette Kamanda George, Mrs. Elizabeth Saffa said they are donating the medicines with support from the United States government to the government and people of Sierra Leone as part of their contribution to nation building.
She informed the Minister and Senior Officials of the Ministry that the Reverend Johannes George was a former Roman Catholic Priest in the Catholic Diocese of Kenema who organized and implemented the relief programme in the Diocese of Kenema from 1991 – 1998, adding that the programme has provided humanitarian support to hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people and refugees from Liberia with relief support from Catholic Relief Services, Concern Universal, the European Union, Caritas Germany, CAFOD in UK and Trocaire in Ireland.
Mrs. Elizabeth Saffa disclosed that Father Johannes as fondly called is actively involved in the Ministry’s activities in the Diocese, serving the Episcopal Relief and Development Foundation and numerous Parishes.
She reiterated the Fr. Johannes founded Hands of Charity in helping low class communities in the Houston areas, and also established a healthcare programme called Supreme Home Care reaching out to the mentally challenged and families with disabilities.
Mr. Sahr Daniel Dugba recalled that during his period as a very active Catholic Priest, Rev. Johannes rendered humanitarian assistance in the form of food items, clothing and foot wears to the less privileged and medicines to the sick.
He reminded all that Rev. Johannes diligently served in many Parishes’ right across the country, but mostly in south, east and west, adding that at the outbreak of the war, he decided to minimize his Priesthood activities and concentrated on humanity.
Receiving the items, Health and Sanitation Minister, Prof. Alpha Tejan Wurie thanked Rev. Johannes George and Yvette Kamanda George for the unique gesture, stating that it is rear for those in the diaspora to continue to think of what service they could render or continue to give to the people of Sierra Leone.
He briefed the visiting team about the importance of Clinical Services and Public Health and the terms of reference of the two Deputy Chief Medical Officers to ensure that whatever is given be used by the people of Sierra Leone.
