Wesley School Segbwema Celebrates Diamond Jubilee

Wesley Secondary School Segbwema is celebrating its Diamond Jubilee in Segbwema from March 15-19, 2023.

Wesley Secondary School Segbwema was established in 1962 by the Methodist Mission in the Eastern Region of Sierra Leone. It was one of the institutions of higher learning established in post independent Sierra Leone, just a year after the country's independence. The goal was to reduce the educational disparity between the eastern region of the country and other regions closer to the capital Freetown.

Rev KPG Conteh Late Principal of Wesley

The foundation stone of the current main school building was laid in 1963 by the Minister of Education Hon. Maigore Kallon. Wesley is located in Kabalahun, the most elevated suburb of Segbwema. It is an area of pristine beauty and because of its remote location, students are able to learn in a quiet environment away from the hubbub of the central part of the town.

In the relatively short history of the school, the institution has produced some remarkable men and women who have contributed greatly to the progress of the region and are also playing crucial roles in vital institutions all across the country.

Wesley has produced students who have gone on to become lawyers, businessmen, doctors, contractors, doctors, politicians, engineers, educators, magistrates, musicians, health care workers, civil servants and much more.

Wesley alumni have excelled in UN, the World Bank, and are employed in many institutions around the world. Many schools in Sierra Leone and colleges in the country have benefitted from having Wesley alumni as educators or administrators.

Wesley's history of excellence is remarkable given its relatively short history. Though just 60 years old, Wesley stands tall among schools in the Eastern region of Sierra Leone.

This 2023, the old students of the school have decided to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of their great school by organizing a Diamond Jubilee celebration from March 15 to the. 19th. The goal is both to celebrate the school's remarkable legacy of excellence and to restart plans for the construction of a multi-purpose building in the school.

Wesley Old Students Association (WOSA), the school's alumni organization, has been challenged by the school board and administration to organize the jubilee festivities. The WOSA executive, led by the enthusiastic Chairman Owen Kaicombey is busy organizing a school celebration the likes of which has never been seen in Kailahun district. The school alumni all over the world are fired up!

One of the great dividends of this celebration is the resurgence of the initial enthusiasm that led to the formation of WOSA.

Alumni associations all over the world are crucial the any academic organization's progress.  Most alumni have fond memories of school days and lived experiences that tug at their emotional heartstrings and this develop goodwill towards the institutions that shape their formative years.

Alumni associations all over the world are crucial for academic institutions. They can assist in fundraising for schools, help students belong to a crucial network that they could rely on for progress, help publicize the school and its brand and also help the current students meet people who have gone through their current struggles and thus become more motivated to persevere.

As Wesley celebrates this golden Jubilee, we are urging every old student to join this celebration. You are who you are today because you went to a great school and made use of the facilities it provided you to become a better version of yourself. So come on board.

Climate Change and future impact on Freetown

We can no longer deny the impact global warming and climate change on the well-being of humanity. Even where the causes of climate change and global warming have become the subject of much scientific and political controversy, the fact is that during the past few years, one annual heat record after the other has been broken and there seems to be no relief in sight.

Last year, heat waves in Africa, America, Europe and Asia led to scores of deaths in many countries. Flooding in Pakistan and Nigeria buried whole regions of these countries under water. Persistent drought in the USA brought the great Mississippi to historically low levels. People in areas in the Horn of Africa are once again faced with the threat of massive starvation.

From Africa to America, Europe to Asia and even in the arctic regions, drought, wildfires and floods are becoming a disturbing common occurrence. Persistent heat and the lack of rainfall in many areas have reduced the water level and surface areas of many rivers and major lakes around the world. In coastal areas, the heat is bringing rising sea levels, accelerated by the melting of the polar ice caps.  In other areas protracted periods of drought is being experienced.

Last year in the United States of America, the Great salt lake in Utah was reduced to a mere 950 sq miles from its original size 3300 sq miles. In context the lake was 29% of its original size!. The Salton Sea lake in California was reduced from an area of 363 sq miles to 321 sq miles in 2022. 

Great Salt Lake.  ( Pixabay)

October 2022 drought conditions in the regions bordering the Mississippi reduced the depth of the fourth longest river in the world to historically low levels.

Lake Mead, the biggest artificial reservoir in the United States provides water to millions of people living in Arizona, Nevada and California. Lake Mead receives water from the Colorado River which for the past decade has been experiencing drought. Last year Lake Mead lost 30% of its volume.

In April 2022 temperatures in Antarctica and the Arctic were 47°C  and 30°C above normal respectively. Melting of the polar ice caps, releasing huge volumes of water into the oceans portends serious challenges for coastal cities in the near future.

Many of the capital and  primary commercial cities in West Africa grew from coastal settlements. 

Freetown in Sierra Leone, Monrovia in Liberia, Abidjan in Côte D'Ivoire, Banjul in the Gambia, Dakar in Senegal, Conakry in Guinea, to name but a few, are all coastal cities bordering the Atlantic Ocean. Most of these cities developed around trade between these countries and Europe. Today, many of these cities are facing existential crises due to rising sea levels.

Freetown, Sierra Leone  (Sheku Sheriff)

A 2019 World Bank report estimated that about 56% of the coastlines in Benin, Cote D'ivoire, and Senegal were eroding, with the situation only expected to worsen in the future. Much of the erosion was attributed to the direct result of rising sea levels.  In many areas, salt water intrusion was contaminating inland rivers people relied upon on for drinking.

In Sierra Leone, from Freetown to Kailahun, climate change is gradually changing the geography of many areas of the country. Areas that were once known for lush vegetation are now resembling the borders of the Sahel, with trees replaced by shrubs and elephant grass.

According to a report by Abdul Brima, the West African Regional Editor for China Dialogue, the rising sea levels around Sierra Leone was leading to the loss of entire communities in the country, including some culturally significant sites. He states that people were being forced to relocate and many were losing their livelihoods. In Sierra Leone, the harvesting of mangrove for firewood, unregulated sand mining and coastal urbanization was accelerating the reclamation of areas that were once habitable by the sea.

Last year, I took a trip to Sierra Leone, to my hometown Segbwema. Growing up in the 80s in Segbwema, the river Nyeya ran through the town, roughly dividing it into two almost equal halves The river was the main source of drinking water for half the inhabitants of the town. On my visit last year, the river was gone, replaced by a small stream surrounded by dry swampland. It was such a pitiful sight, as many of our youthful memories were tied to adventures along the banks of that river.

In Minnesota USA, even though 2023 saw record amount of snow fall, the winters have been getting warmer over the past decade.

Mild winters may pose a greater danger to the world than many people imagine. This is because cold winters do help to keep the polar ice caps intact. However, mild winters may not allow the previous year's melt to freeze, accelerating rising sea levels.

In Freetown, Sierra Leone, many coastal regions like Kru Bay, Black Johnson Beach, John Obey Beach, to name but a few, are low lying coastal settlements. If current temperature trends continue, the Sierra Leone authorities need to have a serious dialogue with the inhabitants of these settlements with a strong emphasis on relocation.

In Sierra Leone, both the people and successive governments tend to be reactive. During the present decade in Sierra Leone, flooding and mudslides have already claimed hundreds of lives in Freetown. If global warming persists, these incidents are bound to occur with increasing frequency.

In a recent session with a very important political figure, the question was asked as to whether there was any plan to convince the people living in the at-risk coastal slum areas of Freetown to either move, or whether there was any plan for their relocation. The answer was that the people around these areas were very stubborn and will defy any ordered relocation. 

However, if the current trends continue however, the Sierra Leone government may either have to force the evacuation of these areas, or risk significant loss of lives in these areas. 

Most of the people in these settlements are blissfully unaware of the threats to their existence of rising sea levels and all major political entities in the country have to be engaged in plans to deal with the potential menace.

As most actions in Sierra Leone are viewed through political lenses, many of the major political players in the country have to be convinced of the seriousness of the threat for people to take the risks of rising sea levels seriously.  However, this is going to be difficult, as Sierra Leone politicians are committed to scoring points against one another and would rather blame to the other for a tragedy than dialogue to prevent one.

Tackling the impact of rising sea levels may be difficult without significant international support, but if no action is taken now, the future of the people living along the coastal low lying areas of Freetown and other coastal settlement will be very challenging. Lives are at risk.

COVID-19 Preparedness in Sierra Leone

As the saying goes, once bitten, twice shy. In Sierra Leone, the Julius Maada Bio led government has been very eager to prevent a repeat of the 2014 health care crisis in the country that caught national and regional leaders flat-footed, resulting in the loss of thousands of lives.

President Bio

During the 2014 Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone, the country’s health care system almost collapsed under the weight of the unprecedented demand for medical services. The Ebola crisis was only brought under control as a result of the massive direct international response by many foreign health personnel, immense personal sacrifice by local health care workers and a change in the disease response strategy on the part of the country’s leadership. The Ebola debacle led to the dismissal of the Health Minister at the time and the appointment of the Defense Minister to head the Ebola response.

Paolo Conteh

With the current covid-19 epidemic wreaking havoc in countries with more advanced health care systems, President Bio, who has recently faced criticism by members of the opposition All Peoples Congress (APC) for  frequent international travels, has stayed in the country over the last few months and taken the lead role in planning a systematic response to covid-19, were it ever to enter the country.

Primarily, the government’s effort has been geared towards developing systems that would prevent the introduction and spread of covid-19 in the country.

A few weeks ago, the President visited the country’s border posts and urged authorities at these posts to be vigilant in screening land travelers using border crossings in order to prevent cross country spread of the disease. He also assured them of his support and reminded them of the last Ebola experience, a repeat of which was to be prevented for the good of all.

Having resuscitated the domestic football league that was suspended under the previous Ernest Koroma led government, the Sierra Leone Football Association has been instructed to take the dramatic step of suspending all football activities in the country, even though there has yet to be a single case of covid-19 reported in the country.

In a move that caught even his most ardent supporters by surprise, the President this week invited members of the former Ebola response group that was then headed by some of his most bitter political rivals to a consultative meeting. The meeting was to discuss a national response to a potential covid-19 crisis. The Ebola group included Rtd Major Paolo Conteh, under whose leadership the Ebola crisis response became more structured. Paolo is however regarded by many in the country as one of the individuals who epitomized the insane level of official corruption that came to define the Ernest Koroma administration. 

The invitation of Paolo Conteh to State House by the President created some disquiet among ruling party supporters and other observers, with some stating that members of the opposition APC have done everything possible to stymie development initiatives in the country, just because they were not in power. Some also believe that inviting Paolo would undermine the fight against public corruption and send a negative signal that those accused of pillaging state funds would go scot free.

However, those close to the President state that with covid-19 being potentially a national crisis that could affect many individuals regardless of party affiliation, it was prudent for all who had experience in managing crises of this sort to be consulted. They opined that if APC had involved all political stakeholders im the country during the fight against Ebola, possibly, the consequences might not have been so catastrophic.  As President of Sierra Leone, Maada Bio, they argue, was focusing on more on national than political interest.

In other news, flights to the country are to be suspended from Saturday March 21st, in line with the response of other countries in the region. Visitors from countries with known covid-19 infections are being quarantined at Lungi airport, though the quarantine process has been criticized for inadequate planning. The authorities are also discouraging congregation of large groups around the country.

Sheku Sheriff

Knowing More about Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

The fight against the current coronavirus pandemic around the world is being complicated by the sheer amount of disinformation being spread on social media platforms.

In countries where people are not very skilled at distinguishing between good and bad information on these platforms, or where the public authorities are not being vigilant about educating their populations about the true nature of covid-19 infections, there is the risk of people being misled by the preponderance of false information, potentially resulting in very negative consequences.

Fortunately, communities eager to educate their people about the epidemic have some very reliable sources of information.  Two excellent sources of information about the coronavirus epidemic are the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The CDC reports that some people with the covid-19 infection have suffered only mild symptoms, whilst others have had very severe symptoms. For some of the more unfortunate individuals the disease has been fatal. The organization therefore offered some guidelines for public education.

According to the CDC, the following symptoms may manifest themselves in an individual about 2-14 days after being exposed to the virus:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath

The CDC also advises that if an individual develops difficulty breathing, or there is persistent pain or pressure in the chest, or the person becomes confused or unresponsive, or the lip or face changes color, medical attention should be sought immediately. 

In order for individuals to protect themselves and those around them, it is recommended that the following be done:

• Handwashing: Frequent and proper handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is recommended anytime you come home, blow your nose, cough or sneeze. If soap is not available, an alcohol based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol is to be used. Also avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth if your hands are unwashed.
• Avoiding Close Contact: Individuals are encouraged to avoid close contact with people who are sick and not going very close to others in areas where there is know outbreak of the infection.
• Cleaning and disinfecting: Frequently touched surfaces such as doors, switches, table tops, fridges, toilets, etc., should be frequently cleaned and disinfected.
• Staying Home when Sick: Individuals who are sick are encouraged to stay home, avoid using public transportation and maintain distance with family members until tested. They are also encouraged not to share utensils. Theu should avoid public transportation and get in touch with the doctors or contact a clinic. They should also have a face mask if available.

Here in Minnesota there has been 3038 tests with 89 confirmed cases and 24 recoveries as of March 19, 2020. Because of the shortage of testing kits in the state, only people experiencing severe symptoms, vulnerable groups and health care workers are currently being tested. 

Speaking at a news conference on Thursday March 19, 2020 Minnesota Governor Tim Walz stated that he is not yet ready to order a shutdown of the state as other areas are doing. As of now, Minnesotans are stocking up on supplies of essentials. Some retailers are raising workers pay to encourage them to come to work and Amazon is currently hiring at its distribution facility in the state.

Sheku Sheriff.

COVID-19: Our Own Pandemic

The Covid-19 outbreak becomes the first truly global flu pandemic of our own lifetime.

As of today, March 17, 2020, there has been 198,373 reported cases around the world with 7,981 deaths and 82,763 recoveries.

China, from which the first cases of the virus were reported, currently stands at 80,894 reported cases with 3,237 deaths, followed by Italy, with 31,506 cases and 2,503 deaths. China quickly adopted very stringent control and quarantine measures when the infection initially became publicized, and they seem to have gotten the disease under control, with only 13 new cases reported, while Italy seems to still be struggling, with 3526 reported new infections.

Source: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

Iran, Spain and Germany round up the top five high infection countries, with South Korea, France and USA following behind.

In USA, the current number of infections stand at 6,482, including 1819 cases and 111 deaths. In our state Minnesota, the current number of cases officially reported by the department of health is 60, all active. It was reported this afternoon that health care workers are now among those infected, and the state government has created new testing criteria that would limit the number of tests given, due to a shortage of coronavirus test kits in Minnesota, according to local news channels and the health department.

Earlier today, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) circulated a letter instructing health care providers in the state to focus coronavirus tests on specimens with the highest priority, namely those from hospitalized patients, health care workers and people living in settings such as nursing homes, assisted living and other similar facilities. 

As of Tuesday about 2,336 people have been tested in Minnesota. In neighboring Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services reports 72 positive cases with 1038 negative tests so far.

In Minnesota, 13 counties have now reported positive coronavirus cases including the two most populous counties of Hennepin and Ramsey which are home to the state capital St. Paul and the neighboring twin city of Minneapolis.

The Minnesota Department of Health has advised all residents being evaluated for COVID-19 to practice self isolation and self monitoring. 

Self isolation guidelines involve; staying at home, separating yourselves from other inhabitants in the home-including the use of separate bathrooms, wearing face masks, not sharing household items and washing hands frequently with soap and water or using an alcohol based hand sanitizer.

Self monitoring involves checking yourself for worsening symptoms, which include having increased difficulty breathing or developing shortness of breath. The state advises those who are having severe symptoms to call 911 for immediate emergency medical attention.

Long-term care facilities in the state have also been instructed to develop stringent measures to prevent potential acquisition and spread, as the population of these facilities comprise mainly the elderly, the population of individuals most vulnerable to COVID-19.  Some facilities have already  entirely prohibited visitors and staff are monitored daily before they are allowed access to their work sites.

With the increasing number of cases in the country and the seriousness with which the disease is now being taken by President Trump, more people are now taking the outbreak seriously. Dire warnings from national health experts cautioning that if Americans do not modify their ways of life, significant numbers of cases and fatalities could result, have also motivated the change in public behavior.

Stores in our Saint Paul neighborhood are quickly running out of supplies of crucial items like canned foods, cereals, and sanitary supplies, which are quickly picked up by anxious shoppers, as soon as they are stocked. Paper towels, toilet tissues and hand sanitizers are now precious commodities in our neighborhood.

Last evening, I visited the local Midway Target and couldn't find a single roll of toilet tissue or paper towel, but was met with rows of empty shelves in the aisles that usually carry the items. There were also very little household cleaning items, with rows and rows of aisles standing eerily empty.

This evening I had no luck at my local Aldi's, where canned food items were being rationed to 4 cans per household per day. State resident being advised to give early morning shopping hours preference to elderly people, in order to prevent them coming in contact with large crowds.

For a country in which we are always on guard about violations to our freedoms and rights, the coronavirus is making even the most intransigent listen very keenly and comply willingly with directives from the state leadership and national leadership. The coronavirus is bringing the rare feeling of we are all in this together.

Sheku Sheriff

Segbwema Blogger

Debit vs Credit Cards: Which is Better to Use?

A debit card is issued by your financial institution, allowing you to make charges against your deposit. If you have a thousand dollars in your checking account, your debit card allows you to pay for goods and services up to the thousand dollars you have in deposits. Your bank or debit card issuer may allow you to spend more than the thousand dollars deposited and impose overdraft fees. Fortunately, overdraft charges are no longer automatic, individuals have to opt in as a legal requirement.

A credit card on the other hand is issued by lenders and allows the holder to pay for goods and services up to the limit determined by the lender; the credit limit. Credit cards are issued based on the basis of creditworthiness and in most cases have no relationship to the money the card holder has saved, with the exception of secured credit cards. Secured credit cards are issued against your savings in a bank and are issued to help the holder develop a credit history. With a secured credit card you are loaned and pay interest on your own money.

Both debit and credit cards have their advantages and disadvantages.  Different financial advisers may give opposing advice regarding the use of both. Comparing the two, debit cards represent income you own and use. Therefore, you pay no interest and incur no liability when you use a debit card, as the income you are using is yours. With credit cards from companies like Capital One, HSBC, or American Express, they are loans from these financial institutions to the card holder. The card holder has a liability to pay both the amount charged on the card and any monthly interest accruing on unpaid balances. These interests, commonly known as APR, may be very high in the cases of people with bad credit. Some credit card companies not only charge interest on the credit card loans, but users may pay annual fees many other associated fees. One typical example of a really bad credit card is the Continental Finance Mastercard which provides cards to people with bad credit. This card charges a $200.00 finance fee upfront, a $50.00 annual fee, a $12 monthly account fee and a $25.00 fee for credit line increases. Unfortunately, these are some of the options available to people with very bad credit.

So, which is better to use, a debit card or a credit card? As debit cards involve the use of money that is yours, some financial advisers encourage their use and discourage the use of credit cards. Credit card interests, they argue, enrich only the card issuers and the interest paid on these cards by borrowers could be used to invest in something else or saved for a rainy day. For people with poor financial discipline or little understanding of credit use, credit card use can impose huge financial burdens. Many individual bankruptcy filings are related to poor credit card use.

However, the case for debit cards may not be so clear cut and simple. The main disadvantage of debit cards is that they do not provide the user with a credit history. In America, having poor credit or no credit history is very expensive in the long run. People with poor or no credit history are considered high risk financial risks to investors and are typically charged high interest on mortgages, car loans and even insurance. Some employers will even reject applicants with poor credit. People with bad credit who face urgent financial need may have no option but to resort to predatory lenders who typically charge astronomical fees and interest rates.  Having no or poor credit history is expensive.

Some credit cards also have substantial rewards. Some credit cards may give users cash back on purchases, may have car rental discounts, air mile rewards, roadside assistance, car rental insurance, discounts at certain retail outlets, and so on. Some cards from companies like Chase and Capital One offer very attractive rewards. As long as users of these cards pay their outstanding balances on time and use the cards wisely, they can benefit from the rewards without paying much in interests.

Concluding, deciding to use a debit or credit card has no single answer for everybody. There is no on size fits all advice. Whether to use one or the other depends mainly on the individual card holder. For people who are cautious about their finances, pay their balances on time and do not carry huge balances month over month, a credit card may be their best option, as it allows them substantial advantages in rewards, while helping them build a solid credit history. For people who overlook bills, shop compulsively and do not understand the risks associated with credit card use, credit cards can be a debt trap that may cause immense financial and emotional strain. For the latter individuals, debit cards could be their better bet,  until they become more financially literate.

Sheku Sheriff

Tegloma Washington DC Fulfilling Childhood Dreams

Tegloma Washington DC headed to
Disney World 

For many children of hardworking immigrant parents in America, some with barely enough time for even a short vacation, the thought of making a trip to Disney World often remains just an unfulfilled dream.

On the Road  to Orlando 

This week however, for the children of the members of the  Tegloma Washington DC Chapter, the dream of a trip to Disney World just became a reality,  thanks to tenacity of the very hardworking President and Chief of their chapter, the dynamic Rosaline Bangura. 

Taking a Food Break 

Rosaline is just into her second term as Chief of the Washington DC chapter, having won the chapter election last month unopposed.

In an organization in which there is a struggle to recruit younger members, Rosaline is the youngest leader and also the leader of the first and largest chapter.

Rosaline's "go get it" style has occasionally put her at odds with some of the more traditional minded members of the organization, especially those at the federation level, who are busy trying to sabotage her leadership of the chapter at all cost.

Trip Organizers 

Asked about the reason for this wonderful initiative, Chief Rosaline Bangura said that about a year ago she noticed that Tegloma as an organization was all about adult members who grew up in Sierra Leone, with little attention paid to attracting youths or getting them involved. She noted that the future of any organization depended on its capacity to attract the millennial generation and young children who will become the leaders of tomorrow.
To address the issue of youth involvement, she decided to explore various ways of getting the children of her chapter members excited about Tegloma.

After brainstorming with members of her executive and chapter, they conceived the idea of a weekend trip with the kids to Disney World in Orlando, Florida, the home  Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck.

Chief Rosaline Bangura 

In order to make the plan a reality, Chief Rosaline Bangura launched a massive fundraising campaign among acquaintances and social media, with the goal of raising $5,000.00 for a road trip with the children. The campaign ultimately proved to be successful. 

On Thursday the April 18, Rosaline Bangura, her dynamic executive and some chapter members left Washington DC metro area with a bus load of well over 30 excited children headed for Orlando Florida. This is going to be the trip of a lifetime for most of these children, who will get to see their favorite Disney characters up close.

With such innovation and ideas, many people are starting to note that Rosaline may be an ideal candidate to head Tegloma Federation in the future, in order to bring the organization into a more forward looking era.