Our work

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Faced with the urgent need for services and the pervasive need for rehabilitation following upper limb amputations, Handicap International began working in Sierra Leone in 1996. At the time, the aim was to provide support and assistance to the victims of the atrocities of the ongoing civil war. These atrocities ranged from amputation and laceration to rape and other crimes. Many children were also separated from the families while others were victims of or witnesses to these atrocities. The impact on the population of Sierra Leone was devastating.

The crisis severely hindered Handicap International's ability to provide for those in the most desperate situations. The evacuation of expatriates (May 1997, December 1998 and May 2000), the suspension of activities in Bo and the interruption of activities in Makeni since May 2000 occurred due to very real security issues. All these difficulties had repercussions on the running of Handicap International’s programmes during this period.

Since 2000 however, Handicap International has been able to stabilise activities and gradually shift from emergency programmes to long-term projects. These activities are mainly focussed on providing psychological care for the victims of the war, particularly former child soldiers and street children, and on the physical rehabilitation sector through the training of orthopaedic technicians and physiotherapists. Handicap International provides the materials and the equipment necessary to manufacture the prostheses that are used in much rehabilitation work.

STRATEGY

The strategy defined for the next three years is to train Sierra-Leonese in mental healthcare and rehabilitation while working to reinforce public services and existing organisations. Handicap International further encourages the recognition of the rights of people with disabilities.

TARGET POPULATION
The beneficiaries of Handicap International’s work fall into two categories.

Direct beneficiaries:

• Any person suffering from a physical disability requiring adapted healthcare.
• Children and families suffering psychologically from the conflict.

Indirect beneficiaries:

• Local institutions, professionals in the field of disability, social workers and associations.

DEVELOPING TRAINING PROGRAMMES

• Mental health care in social work (Ipam), consolidating skills acquired from the CIII-level technicians training carried out in 2004.
• Training programmes for technicians and rehabilitation personnel sent to Tanzania and Kenya for training at TATCOT (Tanzania Training Centre for Orthopaedic Technologists) and KMTC (Kenya Medical Training College) in 2004.

REINFORCING THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

• Participation and assistance in drawing up a national policy for people with disabilities.
• Awareness-raising activities on disability aimed at authorities and civil society.

REINFORCING REHABILITATION SERVICES

• Consolidating services in Freetown, Bo and Koidu
• Supporting the National Rehabilitation Centre and handing over the management of this centre to the Ministry of Health
• Encouraging accessibility to rehabilitation centres for people with disabilities
• Developing a network in partnership with the National Rehabilitation Centre and setting up a local NGO with links to Handicap International’s Psychology Department.

REINFORCING PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT SERVICES

• Continuing and developing work with street children and families suffering psychologically.
• Transferring part of our activities to one or more community structures and / or social services.

RAISING AWARENESS

• Awareness-raising actions amongst communities and the general public on disability-related issues.

THE IMPACT

A dedicated team of 120 people (orthopaedic technicians, rehabilitation coordinators, psychologists, administrators, logisticians etc.) with on average 8 expatriate staff, work in Sierra Leone. The team’s multidisciplinary character allows coordination between teams and a comprehensive approach to treating patients.