By Alimamy Jalloh
Freetown, SIERRA LEONE – Mohamed Lamin Kamara, a man who recently survived a brutal encounter with an elephant in Yembereh Village within the Upper Tambaka National Park, has been discharged from Kamakwie Government Hospital.
He has now returned to his hometown, Magbuku Village, in search of treatment from a native healer, according to local sources.
Kamara, who suffered severe injuries in the August 15, 2024 attack, including damage to his right eye, fractured ribs, and a broken leg, spent several weeks in the hospital. However, after not experiencing significant improvement, he decided to seek the help of an herbalist in his home village.
“My eye, leg, and ribs are still in pain, and I haven’t seen much improvement since being discharged from the hospital,” Kamara lamented. “I believe staying in the village and consulting with a native doctor will help me recover better than remaining in the hospital.”
The elephant attack, which occurred within the Outamba Kilimi National Park in the Upper Tambaka Chiefdom of Karene District in Northern Sierra Leone, has left Kamara in a vulnerable state.
Upon his return to Magbuku Village, he was warmly welcomed by the community. When asked by a local leader if he intended to stay in the village, Kamara replied, “Yes. My leg is still in the same condition, and I believe I will find better care here.”
The decision to leave the hospital and seek traditional healing reflects Kamara’s belief that the native treatments might offer relief where modern medicine has not. He hopes that the familiarity and traditional knowledge in Magbuku Village will aid his recovery, especially for his fractured leg.
Following the attack, the National Protected Area Authority (NPAA) issued a statement acknowledging the incident and confirming that they are in consultation with Chiefdom stakeholders to closely monitor Kamara’s medical condition.
Mr Ibrahim Kamara of the NPPA gave the injured Mohamed Lamin Kamara Two thousand five hundred Leones (SLE2,500) after he was discharged.
The NPAA continues to follow up on the situation as Kamara pursues alternative treatment in his village.
