Free Medical Services for Persons with Disabilities in Sierra Leone.

The Ministry of Health and Sanitation enforced Free Medical Services for Persons with Disabilities as it is stated on the Persons with Disability Act of 2011.

The All Peoples Congress (APC) of Sierra Leone signed, Ratified and domesticated the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (UNCRPD). In 2011, they enacted the Persons with Disability Act and in 2012, they established the National Commission for Persons with Disability (NCPD).
The Persons with Disability Act of 2011 is an Act of Parliament of Sierra Leone that has many thematic areas for Persons with Disabilities to realize. Before the enactment of the Persons with Disability Act of 2011 and the establishment of the National Commission for Persons with Disability in 2012 in Sierra Leone, Persons with Disabilities were finding it very difficult to access free medical services in spite of their disabilities.
According to the Persons with Disability Act of 2011, PART V, Section 17 said “Every person with disability shall be provided with free medical services in public health institutions”.
Since 2018, after the new government took over (the Sierra Leone Peoples Party), the Ministry of Health and Sanitation has increased commitment towards the Free Medical Services for Persons with Disabilities as it is stated on the Persons with Disability Act of 2011. In addition to the Free Medical Services for Persons with Disabilities, One Family People, an organization that is working with and for Persons with Disabilities gave the Ministry of Health and Sanitation some money so that the Ministry would increase the Free Medical Services to Persons with Disabilities said the Programme Manager of the said organization.
On a radio and Television discussion, the Minister of Health and Sanitation said Persons with Disabilities are to be given Free Medical Services in all Public Health Institutions and if they are not given
Written by : James Abraham George