By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
As they gathered every March to celebrate Social Work Month, the group Social Workers Sierra Leone (SWSL) has called on the government through the Ministry of Social Welfare to see the need to transform social work into a Statutory Act in Parliament that can give the professionals the respect and honor to practice in a more dignified manner.
The theme for this year’s celebration is titled: “Time for Reflecting, examining and Taking Action for transformative Change in the Profession,” which calls for empowering social workers.
While launching the Social Work Week celebration at the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) hall in Freetown, SWSL National Coordinator, Hassan Koroma noted that the theme speaks to the reality they face in the social work profession in the country such as the lack of recognition of the profession because of the absence of an Act of Parliament.
“This is very serious. We cannot continue to call ourselves social workers when it is supposed to be legitimate," he said.
He stated that when recruiting civil servants, social workers are less considered which he said also undermines the profession, and called on the government to think seriously that if they want to have productive and healthy Sierra Leoneans, then social workers should be factored in health, education, and other sectors.
The SWSL National Coordinator emphasized that the continuous massive unemployment among social work graduates is alarming which is forcing some to shift to another course rather than sticking to their profession. He expressed concern that social work course is still limited to a first-degree level compared to other courses that have up to Ph.D. He appealed to institutions to take social workers as interns so that they would gain experience before graduating from University.
A Representative from Milton Margai Technical University, Tamba Musa Senessie noted that social workers have done tremendous work in the country, ranging from the civil war, cholera outbreaks, ebola, COVID-19, and the like. He said that society needs social workers to give hope to humanity.
Idrissa Kamara, representing the Sociology and Social Work Department of Fourah Bay College (FBC), said that the theme resonates with the need for social workers in any country. He stated that empowering the lives of the most vulnerable in society is at the heart of every social worker thereby amplifying the voice of the voiceless.
He said they garner their strength from the people they serve as they are always called upon to be the catalyst of change.
In his statement, a special guest from Lemonade, Francess Browne who is also one of their key sponsors urged social workers to take job opportunities presented to them regardless of the location as long as it falls within the country.
A Presentation on social work by Musa Amara also formed part of the launch.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (11/03/24)
