By Jacob J. Kanga
Dorwontony Organization for the Aged officially opens a center for the aged on the 20th January 2022 at 10 Albert Street, off Circular Road in Freetown.
The event attracted stakeholders from both private and government institutions.
The facility was officially opened by the Minister of Social Welfare and Children’s Affairs, madam Baindu Gassama Kamara and NATCOM Commissioner, Mr. Robert Kondema Kargbo.
According to the founder of the organization, Doreen Barrie, she started the organization in 2020 as an initiative to take care of the aged, especially those about 60 years to redress their challenges noting that in Sierra Leone old people are discriminated and not catered for adding that they also take care of old poor people, childless aged people, aged widows, aged disabled, aged people with severe illnesses and aged people who cannot afford daily meals.
She further elaborated that she opened the hub for the aged for them to have a relaxation center, share their experiences and challenges, counsel themselves while those with severe illnesses would have the opportunity to have free treatment and medications and proffer solutions to each other.
The center is equipped with chairs and tables, one computer, one plasma television and games including “lodo” games to keep them busy.
She added that Sierra Leone is one of the countries where young people are in the habit of neglecting their aged loved ones for various reasons underscoring that the center would rebuild the minds, faith, of the aged as well as give them peace of mind, comfort, love and make sure their values are restored with dignity.
The Minister of Social Welfare, Madam Baindu Gassama Kamara commended the organization for the invaluable gesture to the poor, revealed that there is only one home for the aged in Freetown and acclaimed the organization for providing a second one and assured that the organization would be added to the list of partners working with the Ministry adding that she would also inform the President about the exemplary performance of the organization.
According to the Minister, aged people are very important in society because they are overwhelmed with experiences and can offer salient advises to the young for which they must be grateful.
Doreen Barrie commended the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank, Rokel Commercial Bank, Heritage Group of Companies for their support lamenting that finance is their major challenge and appealed to other well-wishes to come to the aid of the organization to cater for the aged.
She informed that the organization is made up of 50 members across Freetown and beyond, that it is opened to all with no criteria and encouraged all to come on board concluding that they are looking out for land to purchase and built a permanent structure for the aged as the current building was rented for two years.