Freetown, Sierra Leone, Saturday 6 October 2018 – President Bio and First Lady, Fatima Bio, have visited 34 Military, Connaught and Emergency Hospitals in West and Central Freetown to sympathise with victims of two fatal road crashes involving military and police personnel.
The visit started at the military-run hospital on Wilberforce where President Bio and the First Lady spoke to victims in their sickbeds and enquired about their medical care and recovery. They also thanked the doctors and nurses for caregiving and medical support to the victims.
From 34 Military Hospital, His Excellency President Bio and First Lady also visited the Connaught Hospital where victims of the fatal road accident, involving military personnel, were admitted. At Connaught, they also spoke to the victims, enquiring about their recovery and the extent of their injuries.
The medical team at Connaught Hospital also gave the President update on the recovery of the victims and others who had been transferred to the Emergency Hospital because they needed special surgeries.
From Connaught Hospital, His Excellency President Bio and First Lady also visited the Emergency Hospital to sympathise with those suffering from major injuries and needing critical medical attention. Received by the Medical Coordinator, Ljubica Ledenski, President Bio and First Lady visited victims, shared with them words of encouragement and prayed for their speedy recovery.
At the Emergency Hospital, President Bio also visited the bed of one Yusuf M. Kamara who was one of the victims of the road accident along Spur Road that involved police personnel. Mr Kamara, who sustained some pelvic fractures, was comforted by the President.
While the visits were only meant for victims of the gruesome road accidents involving the military, police and civilians at the Emergency Hospital, President Bio and the First Lady also requested to visit other patients who were in critical conditions. They visited the children’s wards where they heard emotional stories about the hospitalised children especially those suffering from serious medical and surgical conditions.
The two separate road accidents, involving military and police personnel, occurred on Monday 1 October 2018. An inter-faith funeral service is expected to take place at the Hockey Pitch, Wilberforce Barracks on Tuesday 9 October 2018 for those who lost their lives and internment is expected to take place at the Military War Grave, Lumley.
While in the United States both the President and the First Lady were very saddened when the news broke of the fatal road accidents. The compassionate couple instructed that their first engagement on arrival should be to visit the victims of the accidents. For President Bio, the incident involving the military personnel was also personal because of position as the Minister of Defense and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces. In all the hospitals, patients, nurses and doctors praised the President and First Lady for their caring nature.
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