By Alhaji Haruna Sani
Reverend Dr. Joseph Mojoko Koroma symbolically handing over a PB machine to community chief, Pa Alimamy.
In a bold move to reduce cardiovascular-related deaths and raise national awareness about hypertension and diabetes, Love Your Heart Salone has officially launched a life-saving healthcare campaign in the Mongegba community.
Spearheaded by Reverend Dr. Joseph Mojoko Koroma, the initiative kicked off with the donation of a significant number of blood pressure (BP) machines to residents of Mongegba and surrounding areas.
The launch event brought together community stakeholders, faith leaders from the Baptist and Wesleyan churches, and representatives from far and wide and the media.
In his remarks, Rev. Dr. Joseph S. Fornah described the growing prevalence of hypertension and diabetes-related deaths in Sierra Leone as alarming. He emphasized the urgent need for public education about the dangers of those silent killers and commended Rev. Koroma for returning from the United States to give back to his community.
“You are not truly educated until your knowledge positively impacts your community,” Fornah said, praising Rev. Koroma as a model of servant leadership.
The campaign aims to mobilize churches, media houses, civil society organizations, and communities to promote widespread awareness about hypertension and diabetes, and the importance of early detection and management.
Rev. Dr. Joseph Mojoko Koroma, CEO of Love Your Heart Salone, is a seasoned healthcare professional with years of experience working in the United States. Since 2023, he has served at the Health and Vascular Care Consultant Hospital in Philadelphia.
His healthcare background includes roles as a registered nurse, supervisor at Delaware County Hospital, and unit manager and interim assistant director of nursing at Care Pavilion Hospital. Alongside his medical expertise, he brings rich pastoral experience from the Baptist and Wesleyan Churches.
His academic qualifications include a Master of Science in Nursing, a Master of Divinity, an MBA in Economic Development, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and he is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Nursing.
Speaking at the event, Rev.Joseph Mojoko Koroma said his motivation for the initiative stems from personal experiences with the sudden deaths of loved ones due to undiagnosed hypertension. He described high blood pressure as a “silent killer,” often presenting no symptoms before causing fatal complications.
He cited research from the CDC and the American College of Cardiology, indicating that patients tend to show elevated blood pressure readings at clinics due to anxiety, but home-based monitoring offers more accurate readings. He said reinforces the importance of having BP machines in homes across Sierra Leone.
“I want Sierra Leoneans to have access to BP machines at no cost or at an affordable rate,” Koroma said. “We can no longer afford to lose lives due to ignorance and misdiagnosis often linked to superstition.”
He emphasized that poor eating habits and stress are major contributors to hypertension, particularly in low-income communities. Koroma also thanked his church and the cardiologists he works with in the U.S. for their swift support in providing BP machines, and announced the beginning of a long-term campaign that will expand nationwide.
Community leaders were demonstrative in their praise. Pa Alimamy, Chief of the Mongegba Community, described the initiative as “awesome and life-saving,” noting that poverty, limited food options, and lack of awareness are accelerating health crises in the area.
The youth leader of the community also thanked Rev. Koroma for prioritizing health education and access.
Adding perspective with national statistics, Dr. Joseph Kamara stated that between 25% to 50% of Sierra Leoneans, an estimated 2 to 4 million people are hypertensive.
He advocated for a national health insurance scheme to reduce “medical poverty,” which affects over 60% of the population.
Rev. Solomon Sesay, Assistant National Superintendent of the Wesleyan Church, officially launched the campaign and echoed previous speakers’ calls for increased awareness about the deadly but preventable diseases.
Closing the event, Rev. Osman Jesse Fornah, Secretary General of the Inter-Religious Council of Sierra Leone, prayed for continued support from donors and encouraged the campaign to extend its services to all religious communities.
As Love Your Heart Salone begins its national journey, it calls on like-minded organizations to partner in the fight against hypertension and diabetes and build a healthier, more informed Sierra Leone.
