Chief Heat Officer and Sanitation Sector Lead at the Mayors Delivery Unit (MDU), Mrs. Eugenia Kargbo on Friday 28th January, 20222 hosted traditional heads, metropolitan police, sanitation officers and stakeholders to a meeting at the Freetown City Council (FCC) building.

The essence of the meeting was to see how best FCC can corporate traditional heads from each ward to engage communities on sanitation in zone levels which the chief highly welcomed and accepted to take part.

According to Mrs. Eugenia Kargbo, each ward is divided into ten (10) zones and each one has a head with the supervision of the traditional head. She added that, the engagement will be in community level wherein FCC staff will join the traditional heads and stakeholders to engage the communities on sanitation.

Kargbo, who was appointed as Chief Heat Officer in November, 2021 explained about the impact the Cleanest Zone Competition brought that was launched and implemented by the Mayor of Freetown of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr. She stated that the cleanest zone competition took awareness to communities and minimized the disposal of garbage. She informed the heads that the competition is about to commence again.

Environmental Sanitation Officer (ESO), Mr. Mustapha Kemokai explained the impact of a clean community. He said a clean community will prevent may diseases like diarrhea, cholera, malaria. He urged the traditional heads to maintain their community and enforce the bylaws.

Project Coordinator for Mayors Migration Council (MMC), Mr. Augustine Kamara highlighted the roles and responsibilities of the traditional heads. He also explained the bylaws that will be given to the chief as form of authorization from FCC to impose fines on culprits.

Chief Pa Alimamy Kebe Conteh of Ward 445 at Kamayama asked how they can dispose garbage to the recommended dumpsites. Augustine responded that, there are tricycles provided to youth groups which can access the communities to clear and dispose garbage to Kingtom or Kissy Bomeh.

Chief Pa Alimamy Bangura talked about those that are staying in areas that are not accessible by the tricycle. He said since there is no access, they always burn the garbage. Mrs. Eugenia Kargbo came in and explained the implications of burning of garbage. She said it contribute to global warming and also cause air pollution which affect the environment. She urged the chiefs not to allow anyone to burn garbage in their communities.

Chief Fasalie Marah extended his thanks to FCC for incorporating them. He stated that traditional heads and FCC should work together. He requested a copy of the bylaws to be given to the chiefs as mandate from FCC to apply them. Mrs. Kargbo assured them of providing a copy to each.

Other important points were raised by the chiefs which were addressed by Mrs. Eugenia Kargbo, Mr. Mustapha Kemokai and Mr. Augustine Kamara. Copies of the byelaws were given to each and another engagement was scheduled by the Chief Heat Officer to incorporate all the chiefs and WDC.