The African Youth With Disabilities Network-Sierra Leone (AYWDN-SL) in collaboration with Bakaramoh Foundation, ABLIS Foundation and OSIWA have, sensitised and distributed COVID-19 preventive materials to 50 homes of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in the Western Area and Northern Province between May and August 2020 on the theme: “Think Disability In The Fight Against COVID-19”. AYWDN-SL Country Representative, Abu Bakarr Bangura said the network is always ready to address PWD issues, as this is not their first time experiencing a national health emergency in the country as a network, citing the Ebola outbreak.
He encouraged PWDs to use hand sanitisers when available over general hand washing, as there is no provision to wash assistive devices or medical equipment, and PWDs cannot do without touching surfaces or persons. He also called on stakeholders to support persons with disabilities with hand sanitisers, which he said is very expensive for them albeit more effective for COVID prevention, adding the fight against the virus is not only a government fight.
Meanwhile, the Country Representative listed the distributed items, including Veronica buckets, hand sanitisers, soaps, face masks among others to the 50 homes. Alhassan Jalloh, the Emergency Operation Centre representative, said PWDs are more vulnerable to the coronavirus than abled people, and called for collaborative efforts to fight the virus for which there is no cure as yet, making it very serious and a reason for people to observe social distance and the use of alcohol based sanitisers with at least 60% alcohol.
He implored PWDs to adhere to the preventive measures as the virus has affected many people globally. The Human Rights Commission – Sierra Leone Disability Officer, Abu Bakarr Kamara, said health is everybody’s right to life and that coronavirus is real. He encouraged the disabled to wash and sanitise their hands and crutches regularly.
Gloria Bayoh, Director of Gender and Disability, Human Rights Commission – Sierra Leone, appealed to the disabled to know that coronavirus is real, can spread fast, and has killed over 795,000 people globally.
By Bernard Turay