By Foday Moriba Conteh
In a significant move to enhance access to healthcare for women and children with disabilities in Sierra Leone, the One Family People (OFP) organization, with support from Liliane Fonds and in partnership with various stakeholders, conducted a one-day engagement session with healthcare workers. The event, titled, “Access to Primary Healthcare for Women and Children with Disabilities,” was held at the Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone Peace Museum Hall in Freetown on September 28, 2023.
In his welcome address, the Program Manager at One Family People, Samuel P.O.V Macauley said in many communities, women and children with disabilities face significant barriers when it comes to accessing primary healthcare services saying that could be attributed to lack of awareness, stigma, physical inaccessibility and limited specialized resources, adding that as a result they often experience poorer health and are more vulnerable to preventable illnesses.
He, however, noted that the engagement is geared towards addressing the challenges faced by women and children with disabilities in accessing primary healthcare services in the country including the lack of awareness, limited resources, and inadequate training of healthcare workers resulting in reduced quality of healthcare for this vulnerable population.
Samuel P.O.V Macauley pointed out that engaging healthcare workers on access to primary healthcare for women and children with disabilities is important because it ensures that healthcare services are inclusive and accessible to all as the initiative seeks to address the specific healthcare needs of women and children with disabilities, ensuring they receive the care and support they require.
He said that as part of the objectives of the engagement it will enhance the knowledge and skills of healthcare workers relating to the specific healthcare needs of women and children with disabilities and also promote inclusivity and equality in healthcare services by ensuring that women and children with disabilities have equal access to primary healthcare.
The Program Manager expressed hope that at the end of the engagement, healthcare workers knowledge and skills will be improved in providing disability-inclusive primary healthcare services and also increase awareness and understanding among community residents regarding the healthcare needs of women and children with disabilities.
The Information Communication & Outreach Manager at the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Mawusie P I Dumbuya, commended One Family People and Partners for organizing the engagement on Access to Primary Healthcare for women and children with Disabilities.
He described the engagement as not only important but very timely, adding that over the years Access to Primary Healthcare for women and children with Disabilities has been very challenging for persons with disabilities in the country.
Mawusie P I Dumbuya said that the healthcare for persons with disabilities in the country must be treated seriously, furthering that the Commission is very much concerned about the healthcare of persons with disabilities which he said is one key issue that is in the Persons with Disabilities Act of which Section 17 of the Act states that all persons with disabilities should have access to free medical treatment.
He pointed out that even though the provision of healthcare is enshrined in the Act , lamentably, over the years they have had issues where persons with disabilities visit these healthcare centres but they are not treated with respect.
The Information Communication & Outreach Manager expressed optimism that with the one-day engagement with healthcare workers on Access to Primary Healthcare for women and children with Disabilities those issues if not eradicated completely will be minimized going forward.
The Senior Social Services Officer at the Ministry of Social Welfare, Edson A. Kamara, also applauded One Family People and Partners for organizing the engagement on Access to Primary Healthcare for Women and Children with Disabilities.
He said that the Ministry of Social Welfare is very committed towards addressing issues on Access to Primary Healthcare for Women and Children with Disabilities, adding that the significance of Primary healthcare for women and children cannot be overestimated owing to the fact that women and children with disabilities are among the most vulnerable population in society.
Edson A. Kamara said that primary healthcare plays a vital role in ensuring that women and children with disabilities live healthy and productive lives by providing preventive care and treatment.
He assured of the Ministry’s continued support towards addressing the numerous challenges faced by women and children with disabilities to access to Primary Healthcare in the country.
The Program Specialist at United Nations Development Programme, Mohamed Bah, said that access to healthcare is a key development challenge in the country adding that healthcare in general is a challenge for all citizens not to talk of women and children with disabilities for whom, he said , the scenario is worse for them.
Mohamed Bah said Governments over the years through policies have been making strides towards addressing challenges faced by women and children with disabilities in accessing healthcare but said the issue about access to healthcare for women and children with disabilities goes beyond just making policies as the implementation of those policies is also vital.
He disclosed that UNDP is currently supporting the review of the Persons with Disabilities Act and they are also working with the Association of Persons with Albinism to run a mobile health clinic.
Bah said the engagement is a must as it enables all to identify the barriers and challenges as well as the recommendations on how to Access to Primary Healthcare for Women and Children with Disabilities in the country.
The engagement also featured an open discussion which provided the opportunity for stakeholders and disable women and children to share their challenges and insights relating to access to primary healthcare services.
The “Access to Primary Healthcare for Women and Children with Disabilities” initiative is poised to make a positive impact on healthcare accessibility and inclusivity in Sierra Leone, particularly for one of its most vulnerable population.
