The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has on the 1st February, 2024 distributed 300 wheelchairs and other materials to People With Disabilities (PWDs) in the nation’s capital Freetown.

The other items as part of the donation include 100 sets of crutches, and 100 blind canes. As part of their plans to give back to the community some trained, local technicians and physiotherapy students received certificates for a training exercise that was done for four-days on the Basic Level Wheelchair. The goal is to create long-term self-reliance and help communities thrive by helping people face their challenges.

It was reported that, the training was held at the Pipeline Stake Center of the Church from 29 January to 1 February and was done in collaboration with the National Physical Rehabilitation Program Center, led by Dr Ismaila Kebbie. The physiotherapist trainees came from the Tonkolili District College of Health Sciences, adding that, the donation and training were led by Richard and Karen Teerlink from Church Humanitarian Services, assisted by Richard Goodard, a volunteer technician, and Misha Bradford, volunteer physical therapist from the United States.

Dr Santge Sesay, the Director of Communicable Diseases for The Ministry of Health and Sanitation in Sierra Leone, emphasized the importance of understanding the needs of individuals with disabilities and having empathy when working with patients.  He commended the Church for using their time and resources to improve the lives of this vulnerable population.

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In is comment, the World Health Organization representative, Reynold Senes maintained that, receiving the wheelchairs is a step towards closing the gap in the country’s economic development as well as asiting the PWDs have their potentials as part of improving their conditions.