On June 18th, the U.S. Embassy Freetown’s Department of Defense HIV/AIDS Prevention Program handed over a Waste Disposal and Incinerator to the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces Training Center, Bengeuma Medical Inspection Facility.

This is a part of wider U.S. government programs that aim to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS within the military and the public.

HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases can rapidly spread from medical waste without proper facilities for disposal. This waste disposal system will assist the Sierra Leone Armed Force’s medical personnel to separate harmful and potentially infectious medical waste from general garbage and dispose of the hazardous waste properly.

This will reduce the risk of the spread of HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases both within the armed forces’ medical facility and the neighboring communities. The U.S. Embassy is proud to work with the medical facility as partners in creating better health outcomes for Sierra Leoneans.

The Commanding Officer Bengeuma, Colonel Mohamed Alie Kamara, on behalf of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, expressed his gratitude to the Embassy’s Department of Defense HIV/AIDS Prevention Program and the government and people of the United States of America.

He commended the construction as a laudable initiative and encouraged his staff to ensure that medical waste is segregated before dumping into the waste disposal system. U.S. Embassy Freetown’s Office of Security Cooperation Chief, Major Ogirima launched the official handing over event, assuring the military of the continued collaboration between the United States and the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces in preventing the spread of HIV/ AIDS and improving overall infection prevention and control activities.