The Sierra Leone High Commission (SLHC) today attended a Basic Life Support (BLS) training session organised by *Wel Bodi Beteh Pas Gentri* (WBBPG) and led by Dr. Mohamed Kamara, an Emergency Consultant at Tameside & Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust in Greater Manchester.
Held at the Crawford Estate Tenants Hall in South East London and streamed live online, the session brought together participants from across the United Kingdom and beyond for practical training in emergency response and life-saving interventions. Through a combination of expert presentations and hands-on demonstrations, participants learned how to recognise and respond to heart attacks, cardiac arrest and choking emergencies, perform high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and to access emergency medical services effectively.
The training reinforced the vital role of immediate bystander intervention. According to available statistics, in the UK ambulance services attempt resuscitation on approximately 43,000 people who experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest each year, yet fewer than one in ten reportedly survive to hospital discharge. Prompt recognition of symptoms, early CPR and the timely use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) can significantly improve survival outcomes.
Dr. Kamara, originally from Sierra Leone, has served the NHS for more than three decades and is widely respected for his clinical excellence and commitment to improving public health. Beyond his work in emergency medicine, he has been a leading advocate for tackling health inequalities affecting Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. He serves as Co-Chair of the Trust’s Staff Inclusion Race Empowerment Network (SIREN) and has dedicated much of his career to promoting equality, health education and community empowerment.
Through *Wel Bodi Beteh Pas Gentri*, which translates from Krio as “*Health is Better Than Wealth*”, Dr. Kamara has led numerous community initiatives aimed at promoting healthier lifestyles and equipping people with practical knowledge that can save lives. He also works closely with organisations such as the Caribbean and African Health Network (CAHN) and played an important role in public health advocacy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
His outstanding contributions have been recognised through several honours, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from CAHN, recognition at the inaugural Black Healthcare Awards, and the All Works of Life (AWOL) Unsung Hero Community Award for his humanitarian service in both the United Kingdom and Sierra Leone.
The Sierra Leone High Commission welcomed the opportunity to participate in today’s training session and commended Dr. Kamara and the WBBPG team for their continued dedication to strengthening public health awareness and emergency preparedness. The High Commission also used the occasion to recognise the outstanding contribution of Sierra Leonean professionals in the diaspora whose expertise and service continue to bring distinction to Sierra Leone while improving lives across communities.
Abdulai Braima
Information Attaché
SLHC- London