Young Life in Freetown | Journalist’s death puts healthcare under spotlight


The death of a 33-year-old Sierra Leonean journalist has put healthcare under the spotlight.

Arthur Ben Tucker, whose articles have been published in local and international newspapers, died Saturday while being treated for an unknown illness by a traditional healer, according to social media reports.

A former reporter for The New Vision Newspaper, Tucker specialized in court reporting but covered politics, community and human-interest stories, a colleague said in an obituary posted in Native Think Tank’s WhatsApp group.

Tucker’s death sent shock waves through the Native Think Tank (NTT) community and was trending on WhatsApp, where he used the handle @NativeIsatu.

“Arthur hid behind a veil,” noted one obituary. “This veil turned out to be the most ignored of species— the female. In death, that decision has only enlarged his status.”

Isatu is one of the most popular girl names in Sierra Leone.

@Peebeck said in a news release that he watched Tucker grow from a young Fourah Bay College graduate in 2010/12 “into a prolific writer.”

Tucker wrote stories on land grabbing, young Africans risking their lives on the Mediterranean Sea to get to Europe, and rampant political corruption.

 “Arthur earned himself a respectable image by contributing to community problems and national issues. He was hardworking and very through,” @Peebeck said. 

“I never met him,” wrote another NTT subscriber. “But during our (WhatsApp) debates, I mentioned that I wasn’t feeling well. He expressed his sympathy and said that he too was unwell and was at 34,” she added.

It’s not known when Tucker left the care of doctors at the 34th Regimental Military Hospital in Wilberforce, Freetown, for a traditional healer in Waterloo, about thirty-three miles away.

“Wrong diagnosis is common in Sierra Leone,” observed one NTT subscriber.
 “Misdiagnosis is evidence of a broken healthcare system; no proper facilities and expertise,” wrote another. 

“Sad the way young people are losing their lives. Some of the causes of death are avoidable in societies with quality medical facilities. Whenever people lose faith in medical facilities, herbal or traditional medicine becomes the norm,” said another. 

Colleagues at NTT WhatsApp have established a fund for Arthur’s pregnant wife and his family in Bonthe, Bo, and Kenema, all towns, and cities in the southeastern part of Sierra Leone where Arthur was born.  He attended the Holy Trinity School and The Grammar School.

Arthur will be buried Wednesday, April 5. Prayers will take place at the 34 Hospital Mosque and he will be laid to rest at the Wilberforce cemetery.


Reporting for Young Life in Freetown, I'm Inyilla Borteh Conteh

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