Resident Coordinator Seraphine Wakana pledges inclusive support for Persons with Disabilities.

UN Resident Coordinator Pledges Inclusive Support for Persons with Disabilities

On Wednesday, the United Nations Resident Coordinator (RC) Seraphine Wakana pledged to be the voice to those who can support persons who have been left behind, especially those with disability, at the Mahanahiem Residential Rehabilitation Centre at Grafton, Freetown.

During her field visit yesterday, she made this pledge, during which the Heads of Agency from UN Women and UNFPA, Setcheme Mongbo and Sibeso Mululuma, and colleagues from the Resident Coordinator's Office (RCO) accompanied her. In her interaction at the facility after a tour that day, the RC said she hoped that her advocacy afterwards would go far and that the residents would be able to see the impact of the visit.

She said the visit to what she described as a noble initiative supported by the One Family People (OFP) is "part of our work as the UN to take care of those that have been left behind." 

The visit by the RC and the two Heads of Agency was for her to also see the great work that OFP is doing in ensuring that the persons with disabilities, especially children with disabilities are not left behind, to engage with the children, caregivers, and staff at the orphanage, understand their needs and aspirations, and to identify potential partnerships and resources that can enhance the quality of life and opportunities for the children. She was also there to learn from those doing their best to lift those in need. "We will continue to engage to understand and see where we can support, "she said.

The Centre is home to 42 residents, mostly orphans between the ages of 2 and 16 and with severe and multiple disabilities. According to Melrose Mariama Mboyawa, the Home Mother. Her mother opened the Centre, and she is now continuing with the legacy of her deceased mother. According to the Director of Operations, Samuel Macarthy, they also care for those without disability, including three pupils. Stigma and accusations of witchcraft are reasons why some of the residents have been abandoned, including last week when two kids left at the gate, he told the visiting team.

Edward Emmanuel, the Executive Director of OFP, who was gracious to receive the RC and her team, said their goal is to reach more of those affected by disability and that, for him, "these children have shown great courage and strength, which is truly inspiring."

The UN Sierra Leone has been engaged in different activities and programs related to disability inclusion, such as the UN Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, which ensures that its outcomes and outputs include Persons with disabilities. Outcome 2: People in Sierra Leone, particularly the most vulnerable groups in rural and hard-to-reach areas, have equitable access to quality, gender-responsive essential and social protection services and decent job opportunities.  Outcome 3: People in Sierra Leone enjoy transparent and accountable governance systems and economic transformation that guarantee peace, rights, and social cohesion, particularly among youth, women, and marginalized and vulnerable groups.

This field visit represents a step towards fostering a more inclusive society for children with disabilities in Sierra Leone. By engaging directly with the children and caregivers at Mahanahiem Rehabilitation Center, the RC aims to create meaningful connections and drive impactful change.