Sierra Leone: A joint operation by a team of the Freetown City Council’s Metro police and a Public Health officer on Friday, 2nd June arrested two residents along Syke Street, for failing to comply with sanitary warning to keep their habitation clean and toilet hygienic. Out of the 12 houses that were inspected two residents defaulted the sanitary code.
The project which is funded by EU Stand Salone and implemented by Freetown City Council and Catholic Relief Services is in a bid to prevent another health crisis amidst the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic.
Public Health Inspector of the Freetown City Council, Jeremiah Kai Komba Sokoyama explained that prior to the operation they’ve engaged residents whose environment are filthy and given them three days to clean it. Adding that they also advised these households to subscribe to garbage collection service providers who are responsible for garbage collection and disposal for a minimal fee of Le 2,OOO
Media One of the Sierra Leone Metropolitan Police, ASP Mohamed Ibrahim Mansaray explained that when her wordship Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr assumed office in 2OO4, her priority areas were divided in to four clusters which were “resilience, human development, urban mobilization and healthy city.”
He said that under the healthy city cluster, which is her flagship program, the Mayor came with community engagement which started in November last year.
ASP Mansaray said the “community engagement and enforcement comprises- Metro police, public health, MDU and a journalist.”
He said this group are tasked to go to households which are sanitary unkempt, to sensitized and educated residents about the resulting health hazards of unhygienic environment.
Adding, “after the sensitization a clean up notice sticker would be placed on the resident instructing them to clean up within 3 days, failure to comply will lead to a fine of Le 5OO,OOO or be investigated charged and prosecuted.”
The ASP said the inspection exercise is a continuous process. Noting that the Friday inspection is the second phase of a sensitisation that was conducted on the 12th of May which was replicated in central, east and west.
Mansaray noted that so far, “we are seeing improvement, because when we started in November last year the arrests we made were little over 7O, but now we are having 15 and as low as 5.” He added, “when we get to these residences we observe that people have adhered to our notice and their habitat are well kept. So for us it seems like they are getting the message, because we’ve instituted a two track approach which is using the media and enforcement.”
He said through the media “we are doing massive sensitization, education and communication in respect of council’s bye laws and how to make use of council’s service providers.”
The ASP said “we have our hot line which is 8244 which respond to every sanitary problem when called upon 24 hours round the clock; and also an SMS platform which you can send SMS “Find me in Freetown” council would also respond and you would have the result that you need.”
He explained that most of the disaster and accidents during the rains is because of improper disposal of waste. “When trash is not well disposed, it clogs the drainage and causes flooding and even sweep sharp objects on the road which can puncture vehicle tires and causes road accident.”
He said for Le 2,OOO a resident’s trash could be easily collected and dis posed of at the official dump sites at Kingtom and Ferry Junction.
The ASP cautioned those who are in the habit of burning their trash, he said they are contravening the city council bye laws because they are causing carbon monoxide which is dangerous to the health when inhaled, and toxic to the environment.
He also advised households not to deposit their trash in those public trash can, adding that these trash cans are meant for pedestrians and if anyone is caught misusing those trash cans they would be prosecuted.
OG/05/07/2021
