Statistics and Data collection on persons with Disabilities in Sierra Leone.

According to Article 31 of the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities, Statistics and Data collection on the disable population of any country is significant to their empowerment and self-esteem.

In Sierra Leone over the past several years population censuses have been organized by the government. The results/reports mostly deals more with the able population leaving behind people with Disabilities. A case in point was the registration of voters in our last general elections where most disabled people were wickedly left out as a result of marginalisation and discriminatory tendencies and the centuries old negative perceptions about people with disabilities. But our rights for inclusion in development programs and community activities is based on the numerical strength of us leaving in the community. Therefore, a tangible statistics and Data should be made available at all times to both the government and other interested entities.

One is are the days when people with disabilities were discarded and relegated in secluded environments where no care is taking over their welfare and development.

Subsequently, statistics and Data collection on the disabled population in Sierra Leone will act as a catalyst for government to earmark strategies geared towards their development and empowerment.

Finally, the government of Sierra Leone must make statistics and Data collection on the disabled population a priority if Sierra Leone is to be counted amongst the developed nations.

A food for thought!