-says SLUDI President
June 23, 2016 By Memunatu Bangura
President of the Sierra Leone Union on Disability Issues (SLUDI) has stated that the issue of health among disabled persons was a primary concern and that they should be included in the proposed health insurance scheme.
Kabba Frankly Bangura said disease conditions like polio, measles, among others, were some of the main causes of disability, thus persons with disabilities should have access to appropriate and free healthcare facilities in the country.
Bangura was speaking yesterday during a one day discussion forum in collaboration with Sight Savers international on the theme: ‘The inclusion of persons with disability in the proposed health insurance scheme.’
The forum was held at the Gender Empowerment Movement Hall on John Street in Freetown.
According to him, part 5, Section 17(1) of the Person with Disability Act of 2011 makes provision for free medical service to every person with disability and free medical services in public health institutions.
He continued that Section 17 (2) also states that ‘where disability is detected in the course of a medical examination, the attending medical practitioner shall submit to the medical board established under section 7, a preliminary certificate of disability showing the kind of disability the person is afflicted with or likely to be afflicted with’.
He further explained that the same part 5, section 18 also makes provision for any child who visits a health centre for medical treatment to be screened for the purpose of detecting early signs of disability.
Bangura called on members of SLUDI and other disabled organisations to work in unity in building the union to achieve success.
“If we must succeed in our advocacy, we must try to speak with one voice,” he said.
Programme manager at the National Commission for Persons with Disability, Sahr Kallan Davowh, said health insurance entails a scheme wherein ones health was being paid and catered for, adding disabled persons in the country do not yet benefit from such.
He said most of the disabilities among people were caused either by poor drugs administration or medical fault by medical doctors, adding no medical law in the country addresses such situation.