By Politico Staff Writer
As part of efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease among people living with disability, a group of organizations that advocates for the rights and welfare of disables in the country has embarked on sensitization and distribution of hygiene materials.
The exercise, which is a joint action by the African Youth with Disabilities’ Network-Sierra Leone (AYWDN-SL), Bakaramoh Foundation, ABLIS Foundation and the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), targeted 50 homes for disabilities in the Western area and Northern region of Sierra Leone. The exercise was conducted between the period of May and August, 2020, on the theme: “Think disability in the fight against covid-19”.
Country Representative, AYWDN-SL, Abu Bakarr Bangura, assured the beneficiaries that the network will always be ready to address their issues.
He noted that this was not the first time that they have been involved in a national health emergency in the country, citing their role during the West African Ebola epidemic.
Bangura encouraged persons with disabilities to make good use of the hand sanitizer, noting that since there was no provision for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene] assistive devices or medical equipment for them, persons with disabilities couldn’t do without torching surfaces or individuals, hence the need to constantly use sanitizer.
The activist also called on stakeholders to support persons with disabilities with more hand sanitizers as it could be very expensive for them to acquire.
Alhassan Jalloh, a representative from the National Covid-19 Emergency Operation Centre (NaCOVERC), said that persons with disabilities were more vulnerable to the coronavirus than abled people and that everyone needed to come together collectively to fight against the pandemic. He spoke about the need to observe other Covid-19 infection prevention measures, including social distancing and the use of face mask.
Jalloh specifically warned persons with disabilities to endeavor to adhere to the preventive measures, noting that noncompliance to these measures had affected many people globally.
Disability Officer, the Human Right Commission of Sierra Leone, Abu Bakarr Kamara, noted that good health was key for everybody’s right to life. He added that coronavirus is real. He therefore encouraged the beneficiaries to wash and sanitize their hands and crutches regularly.
The Chairman, Help Empowerment Polio Persons Organization (HEPPO), Ishmail Kanneh Gborie, lauded AYWDN-SL for its support and concern for PWDs, noting that the fact that they backed up the donations with sensitization on the coronavirus has created more awareness and thereby imparting knowledge in them.
“Let us all come together collectively and fight coronavirus,” he declared.
The Head Teacher, Milton Margai School for the Blind in Freetown, Sallieu Turay, expressed gratitude for the sensitization and preventive materials donated. He also said that visually impaired persons were more at risk of COVID-19 as they couldn’t do without touching. He also called on other organizations to support them with hand sanitizers.
In a separate engagement, the organizations embarked on similar donations and sensitization at the Kabala school for the blind, where Head Teacher, Emmanuel Amidu Mansary, promised to use the items provided for the intended purpose. He also promised to spread out the specific messages to other persons with disabilities.
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