The Deputy Minister of Social Security Mohamed Haj Kella on Wednesday 21st August 2024 at the ongoing 2025FY budget hearing during his presentation speaks on vulnerability as a threat to the nation.

According to Kella, vulnerability is among biggest threat Sierra Leone have as a nation, and also the highest in the sub-region stating that and all must be done to address this aspect.

Kella disclosed that the Ministry of Social FY2025 budget is trying to address disability young people, the aged among other issues.

He said access to facilities by disable people is still a challenge and the more President Bio has asked that the ministry of Social Welfare work within the Big Five Game Changer.

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“What do we do about the elderly, what about our young people who have gone into Kush taking? What do we do for these groups? What we are asking for is far below what is on the ground. And even what is approved for the Ministry we do not get all of that.” the Deputy Minister said.

Acting Deputy Chief Director for Social Protection Francis Kabia, while making his presentation, said for FY2025 the ministry is asking for a total of NLe66,333,380M for which the recurrent budget amount to NLc21,988.7M.

He said the key deliverables for this year include the provision of sustainable social service delivery for vulnerable categories of persons, develop and roll out legislations, policies and strategies relating to Social Welfare interventions, provide mental health and psychosocial support services to victims of disaster, mitigate the effects of drugs and substance abuse on young persons, mediate family dispute and provide welfare support to families in extreme’ difficult circumstances nationwide and to undertake research, data collection and analysis to inform evidenced based planning and policy formulation.

According to Kabia, the provision of management support is key on the Ministry’s strategic plan, and that all directorates including provincial offices will be supported.

The Director noted that so much progress have been made on policy commitment on FY2024 but and this include first batch of 50 service users now champions to fight drug intake successfully underwent rehabilitation, recovery and reintegration.

“The second batch of 120 service users have been rehabilitated and reintegrated. The third batch of 120 currently undergoi rehabilitation and the peace mission training centre at Hastings and one stop centre established at the Ministry to offer Psychosocial support services to victims of Kush.

He said the core values of the Ministry of Social Welfare is professionalism as we believe in discipline, Competence, integrity, expertise, team spirit and tactfulness.

“We believe that each and every one of us working at the Ministry of Social Welfare must deliver value for money and optimize scarce resources for the benefit of the people of Sierra Leone, he said. Civil societies and members of the district budget oversight present at the hearing all gave yes to the ministry’s budget based on what the ministry wants to accomplish next year.