In the world
Sierra Leone
Don't forget "the country of the disabled"
Today Sierra Leone, an impoverished country of West Africa, devastated after long years of civil war, arouses only indifference. With difficulty, Handicap International continues the work it began there ten years ago. However, the needs are still daunting and resources limited.
Today Sierra Leone, West African nation traumatised by its long civil war, evokes more than just indifference. It is increasingly difficult for Handicap International to keep up the work it started ten years ago. Yet the needs are vast...
The conflict which lasted up until 2001 saw 75,000 people killed, 2 million displaced, 20,000 mutilated including 5,000 with damage to their upper limbs, and 5,000 child soldiers enrolled in the army. Handicap International has been active in providing psychological care for child soldiers and street children in two centres for street children in Freetown and Goderich (in the Freetown suburbs), as well as in orthopaedic fitting and rehabilitation in Freetown, Bo and Koidu. Sierra Leone is one of the poorest countries on the planet where life expectancy peaks at 41 years.
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Stroke Victims Association Formed in Koidu
Stroke patients and their relatives based in the eastern town of Koidu have formed the Stroke Victims Association (Kono Branch). read
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Mobile Outreach Teams : Reaching the Unreachable
Hundreds of disabled wheel chairs users in the remote north eastern parts of Sierra Leone were in dire need of crucial disable services this time last year. read
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Rescuing Babies From Deformitiers and Superstitions
The campaigns to rehabilitate new born babies who have a variety of physical disabilities have been made more difficult in recent years especially in the rural areas of Sierra Leone. read
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"Reinforcing Rights by Introducing New Laws"
Interview with Noah Kabakeh, a member of the Sierra Leone Union of Disabled Interest (SLUDI), a federation of disability organisations and a partner of Handicap International. read
