By Mohamed Foday Conteh
The Executive Director of Heal Salone, Joseph Sannoh says 80 to 89 percent surveyed institutions in Sierra Leone do not employ disabled people.
“You cannot tell me that a disabled person cannot be a receptionist or a cashier,” he said.
The Executive Director of the organisation made this assessment on Friday 17th December 2021 to officially launch the Disable Got Talent Award Night which will take place on the 27th of December 2021 at Family Kingdom, Aberdeen in Freetown.
Sannoh said their findings are shocking in a country like Sierra Leone.
He added that some of the offices they went to told them that they do not employ disabled persons because their structures and equipment are not disabled-friendly.
Sannoh said the award is to appreciate talented disabled people and institutions that encourage and support and employ persons with disabilities (PWDs).
He added that they want to showcase the talent of disabled people and end their stigmatisation in the country. He also stated the award is to educate disabled persons about their potentials so they could have the belief that there is more they can offer than just begging in the streets.
Sannoh said this year’s award will be the fourth they have organised since 2014 but admitted the event was not held last year because of funding problem and the Coronavirus pandemic.
He said that Heal Salone will be awarding over 30 disabled persons and institutions that support them.
Categories of the award will include best disabled student/pupil of the year, best disabled teacher of the year and best disabled innovator of the year among others.
Voting will be done on WhatsApp and Email and beckoned individuals interested to nominate disabled persons via social media.
The star prize will be 5 million Leones and the least 1 million Leones.
Winners of past awards were only given plaques but would for the first time in this year’s event be taking home cash prizes.
Voting will stop on the 26th December and collation of data will be done the following day on the 27th December.
The Administrative Assistant of Heal Salone, Abdul F. Kamara said the award is being supported by the Government through the Ministry of Social Welfare and further encouraged members of the public to participate.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online (20/12/21)
