FREETOWN, July 7 (232News) – Sierra Leone Minister of Health and Sanitation Dr. Austin Demby has presented Sierra Leone Nurses Association in Los Angeles (SLNA) California, USA scholarship to 8 nursing students of College of Medicine and Allied Sciences (COMAS).
A group of Sierra Leoneans who formed the Sierra Leone Nurses Association in Los Angeles California, USA in their continuous drive to boost the human capital development first issued 12 scholarships to nursing students in Ernest Bai Koroma University of Science and Technology, Makeni and Njala University Bo Campus respectively.
At a colourful ceremony last Thursday 1st July at the Health Ministry conference room in Freetown, the minister handed over the bank slips to students who benefited from the scholarship.
Before presenting the scholarship to the student, Dr. Austin Demby said he know people work very hard in America to pay bills, taking care of themselves and their families but if they decided to send something back home is a real mark of caring, patriotism and love they have demonstrated.
He thanked the association for the progress they have made so far and urged the students that the sky is a starting point for them if they use the resources properly as their insurance by aspiring to work hard.
He went on to describe nursing as not just a job but a calling. “You are special one who is doing a special job for people who need that help. Nobody comes to the hospital when they are happy but when they are in trauma but when you receive them with a smile, at the end they will say thank you when leaving the hospital”.
He disclosed that they are ready to deploy the students after graduating with flying colors to different hospitals in the country.
Focal person for the Sierra Leone Nurses Association in Los Angeles California, Bockarie Med Conteh before delivering the message of the Founder and Secretary, Sierra Leone Nurses Association in Los Angeles California, Abdul S. Koroma, thanked the minister for gracing the occasion and congratulated and wished the students a successful nursing career.
Conteh disclosed that since 2012 they have been awarding scholarship but due to the Covid-19, the project scaled down for new entries but assured of the association’s continuity.
He also spoke about the 100% transparency of the scholarship after the advertisement and how the association does their selection through their findings before sending the final list to Freetown for the approval of scholarships.
He noted that the association has paid for over 100 nurses in the country since the project started.
The Founder and Secretary, Sierra Leone Nurses Association in Los Angeles California, Abdul S. Koroma in his speech which was read by Bockarie Med Conteh congratulated and wished the students a successful nursing career.
“Soon, you will be completing your nursing program and assume the responsibility to care for many patients as you proceed with your nursing career. In any health care setting, all over the world including Sierra Leone, a nurse is the epicenter in patient care in hospital setting. As a nurse, you manage patient care and become closer to the patient more than anyone working in the hospital. Therefore, your goal is to get the patient back in a state of optimal wellness,” he stated.
That their objective is to assist in improving the health care system in Sierra Leone.
He pointed out that the year 2020 was very challenging for the association and the world as a whole due to the COVID-19 Pandemic in terms of raising funds.
COVID -19 affected America more than any other country in the world, he said.
This, he said forced their association to suspend the scholarship program for 2020 and 2021 because of economic reasons.
“Nurses are in the front line to fight and eradicate the spread of the Virus as we all know. We should continue to pray to our Creator to render some help so we can all overcome the Virus,” he asked.
He assured his audience that when their scholarships program resumes, COMAS will continue to benefit from the Association.
Deputy Register for COMMAS after congratulating the students expressed hope that when the students would have graduated they will not abandon the system but will help to develop the health system.
Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer Mary Fullah who chaired the ceremony said the next set of awardees will show their progress report because it is an opportunity given to them and they need to work harder.
Beneficiaries while thanking SLNA spoke of how the scholarship helped them and made them what they are today.
They promised to direct their services to humanity at all-time as their goal when graduated.
