A Sierra Leonean citizen, Justice S.J. Cole, has made an unusual appeal for a travel ban on Sierra Leonean government officials seeking medical treatment abroad.

In a letter addressed to the White House, Cole argues that such a ban would force officials to address the dire state of the country’s healthcare system.

Cole’s letter praises the U.S.’s focus on national interests and self-sufficiency, drawing a parallel to the need for African nations to take responsibility for their own development. He contends that the common practice of government officials traveling abroad for medical care at taxpayer expense has directly contributed to the neglect of Sierra Leone’s healthcare infrastructure.

“If these officials were required to seek medical treatment within Sierra Leone,” Cole writes, “they would be compelled to improve hospitals, equip medical centers, and invest in healthcare services.”

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He describes the current state of Sierra Leonean healthcare as “deplorable,” citing inadequate services, lack of equipment, and a shortage of medical professionals, particularly in rural areas. He points out the disparity between the lavish spending on official vehicles and salaries, which he estimates at $40,000 per vehicle and over $10,000 per month for lawmakers, and the lack of investment in healthcare.

Cole’s letter highlights the significant budget allocated to the offices of the President and Vice President, between $5 and $6 million annually, questioning the comparatively small investment in healthcare.

He argues that redirecting these funds could dramatically improve hospitals, provide better medical training, and ensure access to essential drugs and equipment. He claims that mothers die in childbirth and children succumb to preventable diseases due to the lack of adequate care and supplies.

The citizen’s appeal rests on the belief that if government officials were personally affected by the poor state of healthcare, they would be incentivized to improve it. “If they know that they must rely on local hospitals for their own treatment,” Cole states, “they will have no choice but to invest in making those hospitals world-class.” He further argues that stopping medical tourism would not only strengthen the healthcare sector but also contribute to economic growth.

Cole acknowledges the potential controversy of his request but emphasizes the urgent need for reform in Sierra Leone. He urges the U.S. to use its influence to advocate for a more self-reliant Sierra Leone, where leaders are held accountable for the well-being of their citizens. He believes that this ban would signal a commitment to improving healthcare and restoring faith in governance, ultimately benefiting all Sierra Leoneans.

Read his full letter below:

President Donald J. Trump
The White House
Washington, D.C.

Dear Mr. President,

I want to take this moment to congratulate you on your presidency and commend your leadership in prioritizing national interest and strong governance. Your dedication to making America great again has inspired many across the world, including in Africa, where leaders must also take responsibility for the development of their nations.

I understand that you believe in a strong Africa, where nations work toward self-sufficiency rather than depending on foreign assistance or fleeing to other countries for solutions. This vision aligns with what we, as concerned citizens, desire for our beloved Sierra Leone.

I am writing to your esteemed office with a heartfelt request: please ban all Sierra Leonan’s government officials from traveling abroad under the pretense of seeking medical treatment. This practice has become an excuse for government officials to neglect their own country’s healthcare system while seeking superior medical care elsewhere.

Sierra Leone, like many African nations, has suffered from poor healthcare infrastructure, largely due to the lack of investment by its leaders. If these officials were required to seek medical treatment within Sierra Leone, they would be compelled to improve hospitals, equip medical centers, and invest in healthcare services.

Currently, Sierra Leone healthcare system is in a deplorable state. Many citizens, especially those in rural areas, are dying due to inadequate medical services, lack of proper equipment, and a severe shortage of trained medical professionals. Meanwhile, government officials enjoy lavish privileges, including foreign medical trips at the expense of taxpayers.

It is alarming that the budget for the offices of the President and Vice President of Sierra Leone stands between $5 million and $6 million annually, yet little is allocated toward upgrading healthcare facilities that serve the general population. Such financial resources, if redirected to the health sector, could significantly improve hospitals, provide better medical training, and ensure the availability of essential drugs and equipment.

Furthermore, government officials in Sierra Leone continue to be a financial burden on the state. The government buys expensive vehicles for them, covering all costs, while ordinary citizens struggle to access basic services. This is an unjust use of public funds, which should instead be channeled into improving lives.

Across Sierra Leonan’s lawmakers, each rides in government-purchased vehicles worth $40,000 or more. Their salaries, which exceed $10,000 per month, are far greater than what the majority of the population earns in a year. If such extravagant spending were redirected toward building hospitals, many lives could be saved.

Honorable President, the healthcare situation in Sierra Leone is unacceptable. While leaders travel to foreign countries for first-class medical care, ordinary Sierra Leonans are left to suffer and die due to the lack of proper treatment facilities. This disparity is a clear indication of misplaced priorities in governance.

Banning foreign medical trips for government officials would be a bold step toward forcing them to take responsibility for the nation’s healthcare system. If they know that they must rely on local hospitals for their own treatment, they will have no choice but to invest in making those hospitals world-class.

Sierra Leone economy is weak, and every dollar spent on foreign medical trips is a dollar lost that could have been used to improve the country. Stopping this unnecessary expenditure will not only strengthen Sierra Leonan’s healthcare sector but also contribute to economic growth and development.

The suffering of ordinary Sierra Leonan’s is evident in every corner of the country. In rural areas, mothers die in childbirth due to a lack of proper maternity care. Children die from preventable diseases due to the absence of medical supplies. These are tragedies that can be avoided if the government prioritizes healthcare over personal luxury.

A strong nation is built on strong institutions, and healthcare is one of the most critical sectors in any country. Without a functional health system, the well-being of the people is at risk, and economic development remains impossible.

Sierra Leone has great potential, but unless its leaders are held accountable, the country will continue to lag behind. Enforcing a ban on foreign medical trips would push the government to take concrete steps in improving Sierra Leonan’s hospitals and healthcare infrastructure.

If government officials are truly committed to serving the people, they should have no problem seeking treatment in the same hospitals as ordinary citizens. This would demonstrate their confidence in the healthcare system they claim to be developing.

Mr. President, I appeal to you as a global leader who believes in accountability, self-reliance, and national progress. Sierra Leone needs bold action to ensure that its leaders invest in their own country rather than relying on foreign nations to meet their basic needs.

This move will not only improve healthcare but also restore faith in governance and bring dignity to Sierra Leonen’s institutions. The people of Sierra Leone deserve quality medical care, and that can only be achieved when leaders are held to the same standards as the ordinary citizens they serve.

I trust that you will consider this request and use your influence to advocate for a more self-reliant Sierra Leone. Your leadership has already inspired change globally, and your support in this matter would go a long way in pushing for reforms that benefit Sierra Leonans.

Thank you for your time and consideration. May God bless you and the United States of America.

Sincerely,

Justice S.J Cole
prophetjusticecole1986@gmail.com
Sierra Leone.