The definition of resourceful is the ability to overcome problems or to make do with what is available to create a solution. Surgical Assistant Community Health Officer(SACHO) Mohamed Kamara is the very example of how a resourceful individual can positively impact his community and create change. Mohamed grew up in Kambia district, as the 7th son to a father of 15 children and as the 4th son to a mother of 6. Like many in Sierra Leone his story is is one of struggle. Initially he began studying at the dispensary school in Freetown, but had to drop out because he was no longer able to pay the school fees. He still managed to find a job in the health care system and worked for four years under renown surgeon Samuel Sampha Kamara. Mohamed later graduated as a Community Health Officer from N´jala University in 2007 and went to work in the Kambia Government Hospital. He admits that his keen interest in surgery and previous exposure, led him down a bit of a slippery slope. In a low resource setting, with a shortage of qualified health care providers, he often found in self in situations where he tried to managed cases he had no formal training in dealing with. It was a big relief for him to be accepted into the Surgical Training Program in 2012 and after two years of extensive training and a year of Housmanship in Freetown, he returned to his native Kambia.
Outside the hospital Mohamed is also keeping busy. When he is not preforming surgery while listening to gospel music, he serves as an assistant pastor of the Wesleyan Church. He is also a secretary general in the Inter-religous Council in Kambia District and serves as a director for the Kambia District Foundation. The latter is a UK registered charity that strives to develop the community in Kambia. Trough Mohamed´s efforts they have been able to establish the “Simon Jen Primary School” in Masama, an institution that now provides free education for approximately 400 students in the ages 4-11. Plans are also on the way for an academy in Tonko-Limba chiefdom, that will prepare students for university and promote the pursuit of science degrees.
