By Ishmael Zay-Bangura
Freetown, 4th August, 2026 – The National Commission for Persons with Disability (NCPD), in collaboration with One Family People and with support from Lillian Fonds, has held a national dialogue on Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR), marking a turning point to embrace true inclusion in Sierra Leone.
The dialogue, held at Scouts Hall in Brookfields, Freetown, on 4th August, 2026, was based on five pillars: access to healthcare, education, social inclusion, livelihood and social protection, defining inclusive communities.
The commissioner, National Commission for Persons with Disability (NCPD), Brima Sheriff, stressed the importance of inclusion of persons with disabilities, the difficulty in gaining educational opportunities, healthcare and other social issues, as one of the reasons the Community‑Based Rehabilitation is utmost important in gaining inclusion in communities.
A representative from the Sierra Leone Union on Disability Issues (SLUDI), Rahman Jalloh, stressed through an interpreter about the issue of sign language, stating interpreters are becoming a menace whenever they get aid from organizations and it mostly affects their livelihoods.
During questions and answer session, an attendee, Abubakar Sesay, stressed that “For persons with disabilities, health means access to quality healthcare, rehabilitation services, and health awareness,” noting that it means being seen, heard, and treated with dignity whenever they walk into a clinic.
The National Dialogue has ignited a shared commitment to building inclusive communities, ensuring that no one, regardless of ability, would ever be left behind.
