Latest news from Sierra Leone
- The Sightsavers’ National Eye Care Programme received Le35,000,000 (over £6,000) as government counterpart funds for eye care. It’s great to see the government including a budget line for eye health, which is a step in the right direction for the sustainability of our eye care programme.
- This means that 80% of eye health staff are absorbed into the Ministry of Health and Sanitation’s budget in respect of free health care for pregnant women, lactating mothers and under fives. This big move emphasizes government’s commitment to taking up complete ownership of eye care.
- Eight State-enrolled community health nurses, three nursing aids, three porters and a registration clerk were transferred to the new eye department in Kenema. This unit was built with support from Irish Aid and Sightsavers.
- The Lymphatic Filariasis control programme was extended to Freetown.
- The learning and teaching materials and Braille books we donated to the Milton Margai School for the Blind contributed to the improved success rates of the pupils.
- The government (through the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology) provided scholarships to all blind and visually impaired students in tertiary institutions. This will reduce the amount of qualified visually impaired students having to drop out as they can’t afford the fees.
- A rural survey identified 849 visually impaired people. 218 of these received rehabilitation training, while 46 elderly received medical care.
- Sightsavers funded leadership training for 20 young people from our partner the Sierra Leone Association of the Blind, organised by the African Union of the Blind (AFUB) and. Participants also acquired skills in developing business plans, and met blind and disabled role models who are formally employed, as a way of empowering and inspiring them for future challenges.
- The Disability bill is now receiving significant attention in parliament.
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