|
LWVF Country Programs: Sierra Leone
Prosthetics and Orthotics Services in Sierra Leone
Subaward: Subaward under the OMEGA Initiative
Funding Period: Summer 2002 - Summer 2005
Amount: $1,000,000
Purpose: Improve rehabilitation services and oppportunites for people with disabilities.
|
Sierra Leone's brutal civil war saw vicious attacks on civilians by both rebel and government
forces. In the late 1990s, in a particularly horrific campaign of intimidation, rebel troops of the
Revolutionary United Front cut off the arms of hundreds of men, women, and children. Waves of
fighting over the past two years extended the chaos and dislocation.
In March 2002, President Kabbah declared the end to a four-year state of emergency, and in May,
elections were held. These events bring prospects for peace and the ultimate return of some
refugees and displaced persons. More comprehensive interventions to aid the traumatized civilian
population are now possible as well.
USAID first tapped War Victims Fund resources in 1999 to provide specialized components and
equipment and to secund a prosthetist from the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation to
Handicap International, which was providing care and occupational and psychosocial counseling
for nearly 200 amputees and other war-wounded in Freetown. The prosthetist also worked to
establish a program to train prosthetic technicians.
The project supported by the initial Fund grant has concluded. A more sophisticated response to
the needs of Sierra Leone's war victims is now taking shape. In 2001, the Fund, in concert with
WHO, supported several workshops devoted to finalizing a national prosthetics and orthotics
rehabilitation plan.
Back to Top ^
|
