By Saio Marrah
President Julius Maada Bio, in a commemoration of the World Disability Day, has acknowledged that women and children living with disability are the hardest hit and farthest left behind especially during this period of COVID-19. Speaking at State House, on Friday 3 December, in observance of the day, President Bio said the theme, “leadership and participation of persons with disability towards an inclusive accessible and sustainable post COVID-19 world”, resonates with his government’s strategic national development plan.
He said the government recognizes challenged people as agents of change in their respective communities.
He said his administration’s approach will always focus on proposing and implementing laws that will support persons living with disabilities. The government will also undertake public education to eliminate exclusionary, social and cultural attitudes, and support the disabled to achieve their fullest potential through skills training and other empowerment schemes.
President Bio thanked the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) and other development partners for implementing disability- related programmes.
President Bio noted that government is fully committed to do more, and used the event to call on all Sierra Leoneans to denounce violence and take their civic responsibilities very seriously.
A Communication and Outreach officer for the National Commission for Persons with Disability, Ibrahim Dumbuya, said the commemoration meant disability issue is in the heart of the government. He said the enactment of the Persons with Disability Act, 2011, establishing of the commission and the allocation for the commission in the government’s 2022 budget were all indications of the government’s commitment to protecting and promoting disability issues.
Dumbuya also noted support from National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA’s) Safety Net financial package and free treatment at all government hospitals.
While appreciating President Bio’s enthusiasm, he called for allocation of more funds for the disabled in the budget and spoke about the delay in receiving their second quarter for the 2021 financial year.
According to him, there has been a lot of sensitization against the discrimination of their persons and the free tuition they enjoy at all public universities across the country.
He however noted there are still challenges surrounding access to public buildings even though there have been lots of engagement on the issue.
According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 15% of the world’s population experience some form of disability or impairment.
Copyright © Politico Online 06/12/21
