By Mohamed Yayah Kanneh

In a bid to promote equal opportunities and inclusive sexual reproductive health services for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), vulnerable women and adolescent boys and girls, the Women with Disabilities Yearning for Equal Opportunities (WoDYEO) recently organized a community sensitization and discussion workshop in the Western urban area of Freetown.

The event, held on Friday 15th of August 2025, was a continuation of the Saving Lives in Sierra Leone Phase-IIl (3) is a five years’ project which started with different communities in April 2025 and has been targeting 26 community health centers in the Western Urban.  The Saving Lives Phase-IIl project is implemented by WoDYEO with funds from Humanity and Inclusion, formerly called Handicap International.                                                                   Madam Ramatu Princess Kanu, Executive Director of WoDYEO, highlighted the importance of the program in addressing critical issues faced by PWDs in accessing healthcare services.

During the workshop, Mr. Mohamed Bangura, a Community Health Officer at Jenner Wright Clinic, expressed gratitude to WoDYEO for shedding light on the challenges faced by PWDs and educating health workers on the best practices in providing care for them. Nurse Kadiatu Thullah, a Community Health Worker at the clinic, emphasized the need for all service providers to embrace PWDs and ensure they receive the same quality of care as other patients.

Chairlady of the Upgun and the Race Course communities, Madam Jariatu Yawo Kamara, commended WoDYEO for their efforts in empowering PWDs and called on health workers to implement the knowledge gained from the workshop into their daily practices. Ms. Hawanatu Kamara, in her vote of thanks, urged the government and other service providers to improve medical facilities in health centers to better accommodate PWDs.

The workshop not only provided valuable information on inclusive sexual reproductive health but also served as a platform for dialogue and empowerment for PWDs and community health workers alike. It is hoped that such initiatives will continue to bridge the gap in healthcare services for PWDs in Freetown and beyond.

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Friday,22th August 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)