By Nelson Manneh & Assan Bah
At an age when most children are preoccupied with playground games and homework, 9-year-old Sira Cham is fighting a much bigger battle—ending the stigma faced by burn survivors. After surviving a devastating scalding accident as a toddler, Sira has turned her painful past into a source of hope for others by founding the Sira Burn Foundation.
The scars Sira bears narrate a story of suffering, but her voice conveys triumph. Rather than hiding from her past, the young survivor is using her experience to raise awareness and create healing for others with similar injuries.
Reflecting on her journey, Sira shared, “I was a young girl full of dreams and hope. But my life suddenly changed due to a burn accident that left scars on my skin. I have had five surgeries so far, but I still have the defects of burn, noting that victims of such accidents end with permanent disability, handicap, or even death. This is a very painful experience that I went through as a victim of burn and a survivor.”
Her foundation now aims to provide support for burn survivors, emphasizing the need for early physiotherapy and continued care. Sira explained, “It is a charitable foundation that is out to help burn victims in several ways. To cope with defects and prevent defects of burns like arthritis and other physical defects, she said parents should look after their children.”
The launch event drew support from across the community. Mrs. Fatou Dally Bitaye, a representative from the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, praised the initiative as a step towards healing hearts and breaking stigma. “This occasion reminds us that true strength lies not only in healing physical wounds but also in fostering empathy, understanding, and acceptance within our society. Sira, don’t worry, we are all the same at the root but different at the branches,” she said, emphasizing the importance of inclusion and acceptance.
Human rights activist Mr. Madi Jobarteh also commended Sira’s courage, noting, “Her life experience is also telling us that no one is beyond experiences that can impose disability on you. With Sira’s experience and life, I think the idea of child rights would be promoted, would be appreciated, and both children and parents would also embrace this idea to ensure that our children live in safety at home and certainly anywhere else that they are.”
Medical professionals echoed the call for prevention and better care. Dr. Kebba S. Marenah, Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon, recounted his involvement in Sira’s treatment. “The availability of treatment for patients with burns is still lacking…almost all of them are preventable. As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. So the best way to manage a burn is to prevent a burn from happening in the first place,” he said.
Dr. Marenah expressed hope that the Sira Burn Foundation would help address not only the treatment and rehabilitation of burn victims but also raise awareness about prevention, child protection, and human rights.
For Sira Cham, the journey from victim to victor is far from over. But with her foundation, she is determined to ensure that no burn survivor walks alone, and that stigma gives way to understanding and hope.
