AYV News, September 5, 2024
The Centre for Disability and Less-Privilege Persons, has provided free medical check-up and treatment for Persons Living With Disabilities and the less privileged in Sierra Leone.
Founder and Executive Director of Centre for Disability and Less-Privilege, Robert Bob Foday said according to analysis from the recent Population and Housing statistics, there are about 93,000 persons living with disabilities in Sierra Leone.
He said these include the visual impels, hearing impels, war wounded including amputees and Polio, displaced and mental disability.
Mr. Foday further revealed that this has resulted to major negative effect in Sierra Leone among which, includes poor health conditions due to outdoor exposures, higher rates of poverty, higher rate of crimes, higher rate of alcohol and drug abuses, higher rate of HIV and STDs infections, higher rate of sexual abuses and higher rate of mortality among other issues.
Robert Bob Foday said: “We at CDP personally believe that people with disabilities have the capacity to become productive citizens and contribute to national development, and theses our views are in line with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons which states that people with disabilities have an inherent right to respect for their human dignity”.
Special Executive Assistant to the Chairman of the National Commission for Persons Living With Disabilities (PLWDs), Daniel S. Pewah said the needs of PLWDs are enormous and that the government alone cannot handle them all, hence, the importance of interventions from humanitarian organisations like, the Centre for Disability and Less-Privilege.
He said the intervention from the Centre for Disability and Less-Privilege to provide free screening and treatment for the PLWDs on all ailments is a laudable venture that should be replicated by other humanitarian organisations and persons.
Bablu Vivian Karam, representing the Ministry of Social Welfare also made similar contributions, lauding the efforts of the Centre for Disability and Less-Privilege, while also encouraging the organisation to intervene in the fight against harmful drugs on PLWDs. She encouraged the beneficiaries not to sell the medicines supplied to them but to use them to maintain good health.
On behalf of the beneficiaries, Sidi Jusu Mansaray thanked and appreciated the Centre for Disability and Less-Privilege for the gesture, while encouraging other humanitarian organisations to replicate similar supports to them as disables.
The Centre for Disability and Less-Privilege aims to provide specialised healthcare services and therapies tailored to the needs of disabled and less-privileged persons.
Establish a well-equipped Rehabilitation Centre (RC) and a home that can accommodate both persons with disabilities (PWDs), their caregivers, and less-privileged individuals.
Provide food and clothing for disabled and less-privileged individuals; and enhance access to quality life and opportunities for disabled and less-privileged persons.
Furthermore, the organisation aims to promote social inclusion and equal participation of disabled and less-privileged persons in social activities; offer support and guidance for the reintegration of disabled and less-privileged persons into society; and raise awareness and advocate for the rights of disabled and less-privileged persons within the broader community.
One of its key plans is to set up educational and vocational centres equipped with appropriate technology, and trained staff to provide tailored education and technical skills for Persons with Disabilities for re – integration in the Society.
“People with disabilities continue to inspire us to appreciate life, in most instances they do remarkable things which many able – bodied people cannot do. I take this opportunity to encourage all of us to continue doing the best we can to contribute in the effort of creating a better life for people with disabilities”. Founder and Executive Director concluded.
