Podapoda: A Factor For The Quick Spread Of Diseases

…A letter to the Government of Sierra Leone

Written by: George Ojuku Momoh

To the Government,

With both a warm heart and a solemn voice, I write. This letter is not just a formality, it is a plea. There is a factor which has been contributing to the spread of diseases in Sierra Leone. It has quietly existed for years, yet is rarely addressed with the urgency it deserves.

For as long as I can remember, our nation has faced wave after wave of difficulties. Among them, the emergence and high spread of diseases remain one of the most pressing threats to the lives of our people. I have seen and read about the Government’s many efforts to combat these outbreaks, and I commend the work being done. But there is an everyday reality on our roads that continues to put citizens in harms way, the podapoda (minibus).

These vehicles, important for daily transportation, have unfortunately become silent carriers in the spread of diseases. The number of passengers jampacked into each podapoda is quite alarming. It has now become standard for drivers to carry twentyseven passengers,five in each of the five rows at the back, and two in the front alongside the driver. This is done mainly to make more money, but it comes at a heavy cost to public health.

I honestly understand the transportation challenges in our country. Passengers, desperate to reach their destinations, often tolerate overcrowding without complaint. Drivers, many of whom have no other way to earn a living, feel obliged to carry as many people as possible. But in all of this, we cannot ignore the fact that the lives of Sierra Leoneans are at stake.

In a packed podapoda, bodies are pressed against each other. Some passengers may be sick, others sweat heavily, and skin to skin contact is unavoidable. Under these conditions, if even one person carries an infectious disease, whether it is a common cold, tuberculosis, or something worse, the risk of spreading it to many others is very high.

Sierra Leone has gone through a lot already. As a young, multitalented writer and activist, I cannot sit and do nothing while this continues. My pen is my voice, and today, it speaks on behalf of those who depend on safe and healthy transportation.

I humbly ask that the Government consider the following:

Set and enforce a safe passenger limit for all public transports.

Carry out frequent inspections to ensure compliance.

Promote hygiene and sanitation among drivers and passengers by sensitizing and warning them.

Explore affordable alternative transport services to reduce overcrowding.

The health of Sierra Leoneans must come before profit. If we fail to act, the next outbreak could spread faster than we can contain it. But if we act now, we can save lives and make Sierra Leone stronger.

I trust that this would be taken seriously, and the public hope to hear of the steps being taken soon.

*With respect and hope,

*©️George Ojuku Momoh*

*@George the Invisible Writer*