Discover the Transformative Change Social Work Does for Needy Persons: 

Photo: Dutch Volunteer -Marnel Breure, service user -Abu and SWSL-National Coordinator -Hassan Koroma

When it comes to getting the right help as a person with little or poor financial background facing medical issues, all the persons would wish for is to die and be buried.   It’s more serious for persons with disabilities. Because the systems in place are not synchronized with the policies in place addressing vulnerabilities. Additionally, the absence of recognizing and empowering social workers who are better suited to help such individuals to attain a satisfying and a normal life by helping them overcome their difficulties when social workers are recognized and empowered. Here’s the story of Abu, not his real name. 

 Another exclusive case of transformative change social work contributes to for a dignified and a normal life for people in crisis. Abu, who Was a semi physically challenged young man, was born unable to walk upright, due to a problem with his left ankle. As he tried to cope with that challenge, sadly, he had a severe injury on the same ankle. According to Abu, he has been with the injury for over 7 years before we came into contact with him in 2021, almost a four year social work relationship with him. It all started one faithful day when Abu, was engaging in his normal begging just like many other PWD’s, had an attack and fell down. Nobody could come to his rescue and someone who noticed our work with people experiencing homelessness and with disabilities ran into our office and notified us about Abu’s incident. We intervened without any funds available for such. The only resources we had are social work interns and one was assigned to accompany him to Connaught Hospital, hoping that he could benefit from the free medical persons with disabilities are supposed to be entitled to. Yes, we didn’t pay for consultation, but aside from that the situation soon became clear that we had to have money to get him treatment. Abu, who depends on begging for his survival, has been experiencing a terrible condition with this injury.

Since 2021, when we got involved in helping him with his injury, the problem always comes back again. Each time the injury resurfaces, we are forced to look for a supporter or seeking for donations to provide him the medical care he deserved. In 2021, with the help of a young Sierra Leonean man based in the United States, Noah Janneh, and the social worker by then was Lansana Fofanah, currently in the United States, Abu, received treatment at Connaught Hospital and got better and back to his begging hustle. In 2022, he got a similar attack from his injuries. We got involved with the help of our Facebook friends and the social worker involved was Alimamy Fullah. Again, we got him treated at Connaught Hospital and he became fine again. But, just as we got into 2023, the injuries became worse and fearful. All what he could say: “Mr. Hassan, I’ll die. I prefer to die. But, please help me”. As we keep crying for another chance, he added that this time he wanted the feet to be amputated. Luckily for us, Marnel Breure, a Duch journalist has been a strong volunteer for the Sunday meal service, a woman who believes in social justice. Her intervention increased our healthcare support for people experiencing homelessness by helping with funds from her friends in the Netherlands. 

As the cases increase, some with complicated issues that require a lot of funds like Abu, when he demanded amputation, the cost involved was too much. We explored different options but finally she was able to get Masanga Hospital, where most of the doctors are Duch, and lobby for him and luckily he got accepted. Surgery was done successfully and Abu, is now feeling healthy and happier.  “Mr. Hassan, thank God, I met you people (social workers), I could have died. I could have taken my life. I haven’t felt this way for years.

I am feeling sweet breeze,” he said. All what Abu, now looks forward to is to have a Keke to ride and sustain his life instead of going back to the street begging. “Mr. Hassan, please fight for me to secure a Keke. I will be paying the organization, not totally free,” he says. By principle, social work is to empower people, but we can’t do it without you. The cost for Keke is around $3, 500. Your donation no matter how big or small will make a huge difference, to support kindly donate here: https://www.paypal.me/liftavillage and please state the purpose of the donation.

The change we believe in as social workers, the willingness to work with others and utilize systems for the social betterment of people, is what makes social work unique. We hope social work becomes a recognized profession pretty soon the longer it takes the more people continues to suffer more who needed our services.  SWSL, we remain committed in the cause of providing services but our service rely upon donations your contribution will empower us to better serve our community members. Such transformation is the byproduct of the regular Sunday meal service which create relationship building with people experiencing homelessness in Freetown. We are grateful to all our sponsors for the support, and we ask to be a monthly donor for the needy. Kindly donate here: https://www.paypal.me/liftavillage.