The National Commission for Persons with Disability (NCPD), as part of their 2020 deliverables that were captured and approved in the National Budget, was to support more Disabled Persons Organisations (DPOs) nationwide, but the coronavirus has affected most of their operations. Notwithstanding that, the Commission on Friday 21st August 2020 dished out Le197, 810, 000 in grants to 19 DPOs nationwide to help build their capacity and support their livelihood especially during the COVID-19 fight.
Despite direct cash transfers by government through the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) to persons with disabilities (PWDs) across the country that end with lots of complaints, the Commission decided to engage groups across the nation to directly benefit PWDs’ learning skills at these organisations. Nineteen DPOs nationwide including seven in the Western Area, three in the Southern Region, three in the Eastern Region, three in North-east Region, and three in the North-west Region are among the selected groups that benefited from the grants based on criteria set by the Commission.
Prior to the grant disbursement, DPOs were asked to write request letters to the NCPD asking for support, including submission of their last project reports. The 19 beneficiaries emerged from the many submitted request letters. It can be recalled that the Commission has been supporting established disability groups nationwide with funds from government aimed at building the capacities of PWDs through DPOs, who are expected to provide skills training for their colleagues.
The NCPD Programme Manager, Tamba S. P. Mondeh, said most of their colleagues have been suffering for far too long but as a structured board that is working on a transparent platform, they are able to attract government support which they in turn transform into capacitating the lives of their colleagues through established DPOs across the country. The Executive Secretary of NCPD, Saa Lamin Kortequee, said the grants form part of the many support they have been giving to various DPOs after they received funds from government through the Ministry of Finance.
He said they are happy to give grants to groups that work with a social and right model geared towards getting the disabled from the streets. He said the grants are intended to empower the groups to ensure through their livelihood and skills training programmes, they are able to deliver programmes that will empower PWDs transform into skilful and self-reliant persons. The Chairman of the National Commission for Persons with Disability, James T. Cullen expressed appreciation to all board members and his general membership especially the DPOs for establishing skills training centres that target the disabled.
He said government has been considering and listening to their cries with the approval of their budget, as well for the timely disbursement of funds to undertake their annual deliverables. The Chairman said there are good, educated and intelligent disabled people, but their situation is unfriendly in Sierra Leone especially with public perception that all disabled are beggars.
He said with proper and transparent utilisation of grants from government, PWDs can be assured of making positive impacts, because if all disabled persons decide to empower themselves through the already established training centres, the future is bright for them. Mariama Jalloh, Chairlady of the Polio Women and Girls Development Organisation, Hastings, said for the past 22 years they have been providing vocational training for persons with disabilities from across the country, adding that her group has transformed the lives of lots of their colleagues empowering their skills through gara tie dying, soap making, agriculture, dress making, among others.
Jalloh thanked government through the Commission for the grant to various groups noting that with such support coming regularly, there is the potential that more disabled persons will leave their street begging points, adding: there are lots of institutions owned by DPOs but are support constraint, especially for food to get their colleagues focused on the job training being provided.
By Mohamed Kabba