By Amin Kef (Ranger)

A major milestone in community-driven healthcare development was achieved on Thursday, July 3, 2025, when Honourable Paramount Chief Member of Parliament, Paul Ngaba Saquee V and the Chief Executive Officer of SeCon, Papah Chendeka, officially handed over the keys to a newly constructed 24-bed annex building to the Ministry of Health at the Koidu Government Hospital in Koidu, Kono District.

The annex, designed as a special treatment facility, aims to ease congestion in the hospital and provide elderly patients and individuals requiring privacy with dignified and comfortable medical care. Built through a partnership between the Paramount Chief and CEO Papah Chendeka, the initiative was sparked by a deeply personal moment that highlighted the need for improved healthcare infrastructure.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, Paramount Chief Paul Ngaba Saquee V revealed that the idea for the annex came after witnessing the lack of privacy afforded to the late Hon. Fillie Faboe during his admission at the hospital. He described the experience as an emotional turning point that motivated him to seek support for a solution.

“I was emotionally touched during the time the late Hon. Fillie Faboe was admitted at the Koidu Government Hospital,” he recalled. “Upon arriving, I realized there was no privacy for the critically ill honourable man. That moment moved me to act.” He said it was at that point he reached out to philanthropist and Kono native, Papah Chendeka, who immediately committed to the vision of constructing a new wing that would serve the community.

Paramount Chief Paul Ngaba Saquee V emphasized that the annex is a gift to the public and not a private facility. “As private citizens, we have no hand in running that annex,” he said. “We are handing it over to Government to be managed as public property, accessible to anyone who needs it; chiefs, MPs or the common man alike.”

Echoing the words of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy, he reminded citizens of their duty to contribute to nation-building: “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” He urged the people of Kono and beyond to embrace collaboration and community spirit in driving development.

In his address, CEO Papah Chendeka praised Paramount Chief Paul Ngaba Saquee’s leadership and shared his pride in being part of such a transformative project. “This annex is a testament to what we can do when we put our people first,” he said. “Let it serve as a model for what unity and commitment can achieve.”

The event drew a large gathering of dignitaries and stakeholders from across the district, including several Paramount Chiefs, Members of Parliament, local council representatives and community leaders. The gesture by PC Paramount Chief Member of Parliament, Paul Ngaba Saquee V and CEO Papah Chendeka was widely lauded as a shining example of visionary leadership, compassion and civic responsibility.

With the Ministry of Health set to take full control of the annex, the new facility is expected to significantly improve healthcare delivery in Kono and provide a model for effective public-private partnerships in the health sector. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/ceo-papah-chendeka-pc-paul-saquee-v-hand-over-24-bed-annex-to-boost-healthcare-in-kono/