By Nafisatu Olayinka Deen
Freetown, 13th July 2026 – Mothers, newborns, and entire communities in two communities in Bombali District can now access clean and safe water, thanks to two newly constructed boreholes handed over by the Rotary Club of Freetown Sunset.
The boreholes, located at Kakorla and Kerefay Loko Maternal and Child Health Posts, are the first of six planned under a partnership with Rotary Naperville Sunrise in the United States, World Hope International, the Ministry of Health, the District Health Management Team Bombali, and the Ministry of Water and Sanitation.
Immediate Past President of the Rotary Club of Freetown Sunset, Musa Bernard Komeh, described the initiative as a humanitarian gesture that complements government efforts. “Rotary Club of Freetown Sunset is a humanitarian club, and this project aims to bring safe and clean water to communities that need it most,” he said, noting that six peripheral health units across Bombali will benefit.
For health workers, the boreholes are more than infrastructure, they are lifesaving. Head Nurse Mariatu Turay of Kakorla Maternal and Child Health Post explained that before the project, pregnant women and babies struggled without reliable access to clean water. “With this borehole, mothers, babies, patients, and the wider community can now access safe water,” she said.
Daniel Stevens, Water Sanitation and Hygiene Coordinator at World Hope International, emphasized the urgency of the intervention. He noted that both communities had previously relied on a single seasonal water point, leaving families vulnerable during dry months.
Residents expressed heartfelt appreciation. Fatu Kalokoh of Kerefay Loko likened the struggle for water to “finding a needle in a haystack” and praised the Rotary Club for easing daily hardships.
Komeh extended gratitude to international partners for their support. “We are grateful to our Global Grant partners, Naperville Sunrise Rotary, for their generous support, and to World Hope International for the outstanding implementation of this project,” he said.
The Rotary Club of Freetown Sunset plans to hand over four more boreholes in the coming weeks, continuing its mission to strengthen health facilities and improve community well-being. “Together, we are creating healthier communities through sustainable access to clean water,” Komeh added.
The ceremonies drew community leaders, health workers, mothers, children, youth, and representatives from the District Health Management Team, the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, and World Hope International, underscoring the collective commitment to safer, healthier lives in Bombali.
