Sick Pikin Facilitates Critical Heart Surgeries in India for Two Sierra Leonean Children

The Sick Pikin Project has announced that two children from Sierra Leone, 11-year-old Gbassy Jalloh and 7-year-old John Kamara, are scheduled to travel to India for critical heart surgeries after enduring a wait of over a year. This announcement was made during a press conference on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, where the organization discussed the challenges and achievements in fundraising for these essential medical procedures. 

Gbassy Jalloh and John Kamara, accompanied by their mothers, will depart Sierra Leone for India today, March 12, 2025, for their surgeries and are expected to remain in India for a six-month recovery period, contingent on the success of the procedures.

During the press conference, Ishmael Alfred Charles, Co-Founder and Lead Campaigner of the Sick Pikin Project, stated that the fundraising efforts commenced in September 2024. Despite numerous challenges, the organization successfully raised $30,000 to cover the costs of surgery, accommodation, meals, and flights for the children. However, he noted a remaining shortfall of $1,400, underscoring the ongoing financial challenges facing the project. 

Alfred Charles explained that Gbassy Jalloh has a perimembranous ventricular septal defect, while John Kamara has a ventricular septal defect; both are congenital heart conditions requiring specialized surgeries unavailable locally, necessitating their transfer to India. 

He detailed that the fundraising efforts included contributions from various organizations, individuals, and initiatives. Steven Caulker, former captain of the Sierra Leone National Team, was the first donor, contributing $12,500 from his earnings as a footballer. The Sick Pikin Project also organized a charity marathon in December 2024, raising significant funds with support from Child Fund, Action Aid, Dynamic Ladies, and Vista Bank. Additionally, the Bank of Sierra Leone contributed 30,000 new Leones during their celebration. 

He mentioned that volunteers worked diligently to gather funds, collecting donations on the streets and leveraging social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp to reach potential donors. Local media also played a crucial role in raising awareness and amplifying the call for assistance. 

He expressed gratitude to Cinderella Travels for donating a flight ticket valued at $1,700 for Gbassy Jalloh, alleviating some of the financial burden on the project. 

During the event, Rev. Peter Konteh highlighted the need for improvements in healthcare, pointing to the inadequate state of Sierra Leone’s healthcare system. He noted that despite having skilled doctors, the lack of proper facilities forces patients to seek treatment abroad. 

Rev. Peter Konteh urged the Government to invest in local healthcare infrastructure, encouraging top officials to receive medical treatment within Sierra Leone’s hospitals rather than going abroad. He argued that this would underscore the need to enhance local healthcare conditions, ensuring sustainability and reducing the financial burden on families compelled to seek treatment overseas. 

The mothers of the two boys expressed their gratitude to the Sick Pikin Project for enabling the life-saving surgeries. 

Mariatu Sesay, Gbassy Jalloh’s mother, shared the challenging journey she has faced over the past 11 years. She expressed profound gratitude to the Sick Pikin Project for covering the entire cost of her son’s medical journey. 

Mabinty Kargbo, John Kamara’s mother, recounted her struggles in securing medical attention for her son. She revealed that John had been hospitalized for three months, during which she encountered financial difficulties in meeting the necessary medical procedures. She described the ordeal as heartbreaking, emphasizing how the Sick Pikin Project’s intervention alleviated a significant burden. 

Despite this achievement, Ishmael Alfred Charles highlighted that over 30 other children remain in urgent need of medical assistance. He stressed that the increasing number of cases presents challenges in meeting the demands of families seeking help. While acknowledging the commendable support the project receives, he called for ongoing financial contributions to sustain their efforts. 

He also expressed hope that in the future, Sierra Leone would have well-equipped hospitals capable of addressing such medical cases, eliminating the need to send children abroad for treatment. 

With the necessary funds secured, Gbassy Jalloh and John Kamara are set to depart for India today, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. Their journey represents a beacon of hope not only for their families but also for many others who depend on the Sick Pikin Project for survival. 

As the project continues its mission to save lives, the call for collective action remains strong; more donations, improved healthcare policies, and better medical infrastructure could mean the difference between life and death for Sierra Leone’s sick children.