Sierra Leone

Background

Sierra Leone, officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a small country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea in the north, Liberia in the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean in the southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of 71,740 km2, and has a population estimated at 6,296,803. The country has a tropical climate, with a diverse environment ranging from savannah to rainforests. Freetown is the capital, seat of government, and largest city. Formerly a British colony, Sierra Leone got its independence in April 1960. Today, the country ranks among the world's least developed countries, and it finds itself at the bottom of the 2000 UN's Human Development Index of 174 countries. Although blessed with ample natural resources, the country has been impoverished by ethnic strife and war.

There is no clear data available about the prevalence of disability in Sierra Leone. The census data from 2003 indicate that 2.7% of the population have a disability. However, this percentage is highly likely to under-estimated as war in the country has led to much impairment, e.g. amputations. There are only a few DPOs in Sierra Leone, and these are all relatively new and therefore do not have much capacity. Sierra Leone Union of Disability Issues is the umbrella body responsible for matters.