By Yangie Deborah Sesay
FREETOWN, Oct. 3 (232News) – International Women’s Day was recently commemorated on the 8th of March, 2021with the Theme: Women in Leadership; Achieving Equal Future in a Covid-19 World.
In commemorating of this day, different organizations and institutions make use of this day to celebrate women’s achievement, raise awareness against bias and to take action for equality.
During this day, women in the security sector organized an event at the Fire Force Headquarter Circular road in Freetown.
On this day, the Sectary General of women in the security sector who also doubles as the Station Officer National Fire Force Authority FatmataBintu Kamara said the engagement was held to discuss the challenges faced by women in the security sector, their strength and to map a way forward as women in the security sector.
She explained that challenges in the security varies with some that are similar, but for her as a fire fighter the first challenge she made mentioned of has to do with people’s perception of women in fire service.
She said the fire service was initially reserved for males, but with women now making their way in the sector, many people perceive them as drop-outs thereby finding the fire service as a fall back.
She said that contrary to such perception there are now women in the institution that are well educated.
She also highlighted the gap in terms of the ranking system in the authority as a big challenge of which she mentioned that in the entire fire service staff, only two women holds Station Officer Rank.
“Myself and my colleague who reside in the provinces are the only holders of a station rank in Sierra Leone’s National Fire Force Authority, this is a two button rank but when compared to other ranks in the security sector, this is not a senior officers rank.”
She furthered that being amongst men that occupies higher ranks is challenging for them. She said even though the men tend to be accommodating, but being an only woman at a staff meeting that comprised major of male counterparts, influencing changes or decisions could be difficult.
FatmataBintu Kamara said as a woman balancing work and family affairs is also challenging. She however noted that being a firefighter is one of the greatest challenges one could take to serve the cause of humanity, but with a well prepared mind the challenges will serve as a motivation for greater accomplishment in the sector.
