I.D.E.A - Helping People With Disability

I.D.E.A SIERRA LEONE

National Director
Desmond D. Dano
Tel. 076-885579

The International Disability and Epilepsy Association (IDEA) in Sierra Leone was registered on August 12, 2004 with the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children's affairs in Freetown as a non-profit organization. In 2004 and 2005 IDEA identified and registered 646 persons with epilepsy and 1,892 disabled persons in the following districts: Waterloo, Bombali, and Moyamba.

About 100 epileptic clients were reported to have experienced controlled seizures as a result of medication received from IDEA in Sierra Leone in 2004 and 2005. However, financial constraints have limited the rapid stabilization of disabled clients affected by epilepsy.

IDEA established sub-units in Waterloo, Tombo and Koya Towns in Waterloo district, rented a house for five years in Binkolo town to house IDEA Coordinator and also used as office space to assist disabled and epileptic clients in Makeni, Kalangba, Kamabai, Pamlap towns, and Moyamba district. IDEA collaborates with other NGO in the country on the global campaign for human rights for all disabled citizens of Sierra Leone and also replaces the stigma attached to people affected by epilepsy by the facts. IDEA has raised public awareness about epilepsy disorder and the care needed to reintegrate children and adults with epilepsy into the school system.

ACHIEVEMENTS
• IDEA provided counseling, epilepsy medication and educating citizens of Sierra Leone about epilepsy and developmental disability.

• In 2004, IDEA rented an office for two years in Freetown the capital city of Sierra Leone, bought a motor cycle and shipped eight bicycles from U.S.A to facilitate movement of IDEA staffs in Sierra Leone.

• In 2005 to 2006, IDEA has expanded to other villages and towns in Koinadugu District (Kabala). In June 2006, IDEA shipped six (6) barrels from U.S.A containing used and new clothes for children and adults, toys for disabled children, school books, pens, pencils, over the counter medication, two kids bicycles, ten portable radios, soccer balls, rain coats, children and adults used and new shoes, assorted can food and provisions.

• IDEA Sierra Leone acquired land in Binkolo (Bombali District) and Tombo (Waterloo District) to be used for agriculture and vocational training.

• IDEA started a telephone center and hair dressing saloon as a vocational pilot program for the association.