CDU Diplomats on Global Health Disparities Series: Focus on Sierra Leone
Deputy Minister Amara Kallon
This important event, part of a series of conversations between African leaders, members of the CDU community, students, and key resource people was broadcast globally via Zoom. With the topic of“ Global Health Disparities in Sierra Leone,” Amara Kallon, the nation’ s Deputy Minister of Political and Public Affairs served as keynote speaker.
A variety of participants spoke prior to Min. Kallon’ s address. They included Dr. Lejeune Lockett, Director of CDU’ s Office of International Affairs, who welcomed students from the King / Drew Medical Magnet as well as students live streaming the event in Sierra Leone. She highlighted the series as being an opportunity for the CDU community to meet international leaders. Alicia Clark, Director of Strategic Partnerships at the Center for Global Africa, also offered greetings.
Professor Ezra Aharone, conceptualizer-founding director of the Center for Global Africa at Delaware State University, described how the partnership was set up through discussions with CDU College of Medicine Dean Deborah Prothrow-Stith. This event is one facet of a strategy to engage various stakeholders and advance the African presence in the world.
In his remarks, Prof. Aharone referenced the historic figure Dr. Martin Delaney, a physician born a free person of color in Charles Town, Virginia. He was one of three African American men who briefly attended Harvard Medical School in 1850 until they were dismissed over white protests. Dr. Delaney was credited as an original Pan-Africanist who coined the term“ Africa for Africans”. Commissioned during the Civil War as a major in February
1865, Delany became the first African American field grade officer in the United States Army.
Sierra Leone was founded in the post-colonial era as a byproduct of European global expansion. Prof. Aharone cited the HBCU legacy as defining the African diaspora. The relationships being formed are critical to expanding opportunities and enabling the ability to work together to advance development. Sierra Leone is one of the primary nations to open its doors and encourage these partnerships. A key asset is the institutional authority being granted for these entities to work together.
Min. Kallone was introduced by moderator Sarah Harrison, a Global Africa Health Council member and former Vice President at AstraZeneca. The Minister was cited for his efforts in establishing public outreach, media education, voting rights efforts, accountability, and the monitoring of programs dedicated to ensuring peace and stability.
Min. Kallon led off with a declaration to expand his nation’ s outreach by implementing recommendations with the community in mind. Sierra Leone’ s emergence as a major nation was accomplished by developing relationships with every community in Africa, he said. The continent has an element of people being transient and visiting many regions, he noted. A respect for human rights has been developed as a result, as well as displaying a peaceful Africa.
His country has a large population segment of youth, with over half of its citizens under the age of twenty. Sierra Leone is heavily invested in human capital development, technology advancement, and innovation. A large
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