One of Sierra Leone’s topmost Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment activists, Dr Sylvia Olayinka Walmina Oreshola Blyden, has Thursday 26th January 2023 doled out one hundred bags of cement towards the First Lady Fatima Maada Bio’s construction project at the 34th Military Hospital, Wilberforce, Freetown.
Making a short statement during the handing over of the building material, Dr. Blyden who is also a leading female politician in the country, said that she didn’t the First Lady prior to making the donation, because she wanted it to be a pleasant surprise to the First Lady.
Dr. Blyden made the intervention of recognition of the efforts of the First Lady in supporting the works of her husband and government in developing the capacity of the health sector. She said that the First Lady is working so hard for Sierra Leone, adding that even though they both belong to opposing political parties, with Dr. Sylvia Blyden in the opposition APC and H.E. Fatima Bio in the governing SLPP.
“I am here for two purposes; one is to give her support as a sister. I am immensely proud of her. I’m very much inspired by what she’s doing as a First Lady and under the rubric of ‘women supporting women’, I want to be very visible in supporting her in what she’s doing. That is why I invited journalists to come here to help give visibility to this support of One Woman for another Woman. Secondly, as a Sierra Leonean citizen and a patriot, I decided that I have to play my own part in this project to benefit the nation. Maybe by so doing, I will also inspire others to emulate and join to leave our marks on this permanent monument being constructed for serving our nation,” Dr Blyden stated.
She opined that there are only a very few philanthropists in Africa who can equate along the lines of what the Sierra Leone First Lady is doing.
Dr Blyden reminded those present at the event that whilst the hospital was primarily for the military, it also serve civilians, recalling that her younger sister was born in the Maternity Ward at that hospital in 1977, when her mother went to deliver there as a non-military person. So she said it was a hospital that serves civilians also therefore encouraged civilians not hesitate to team up with the First Lady Madam Fatima Bio to help the 34th Military Hospital.
Dr Sylvia Blyden furthered that one does not wish to fall sick, but that when it happens, one always wishes to have a standard health care facility to seek treatment. She noted that the vision of the First Lady is to build a world class hospital where all and sundry would be treated. She said her donation of one hundred bags of cement can be taken as a form of investment for herself, and any other person connected to her, who may fall sick in the future.
In his response, site Engineer Mustapha Lagga, beaming with smiles, profusely thanked Dr. Blyden for her unexpected generosity geared towards supporting the project, and prayed for God’s continuous blessings upon her life. He said that the donation is well appreciated and would be used strategically towards the construction. He noted that the support is very timely.
Engineer Lagga also informed that they are trying with speed to complete the entire massive multi-building project by April this year. He encouraged other well-wishers to emulate such kind gesture like Dr Blyden’s donation.
Outlining the construction, he said the project consists of the administrative building, where all administrative work will be done, a Center for Excellence which will be dedicated exclusively towards helping Rape and Sexual Offences victims, three brand new two-storeyed buildings each for the Males, Females and Children’s wards, a Car Park, an Underground Water Reservoir to ensure the facility never lack water, a brand new Nursing School as well as the construction of a brand new Mosque on the premises that would replace the old mosque which had gone into disrepair over the years.
The site supervisor, Joseph Wai also expressed similar sentiments and thanked Dr Sylvia Olayinka Walmina Oreshola Blyden for and on behalf of the First Lady, Madam Fatima Bio. He reassured that they would immediately pass on the news of the donation to Mrs Bio.
