The United Pujehun District Association (UPDA) extended a vital lifeline to the local disability community on Saturday, 17th October 2026, donating food items to persons with disabilities at the Pujehun Court Barray.
Speaking during the presentation, UPDA President Patrick Kanyako emphasized that the gesture reflects the organization’s steadfast commitment to ensuring that persons with disabilities are recognized as crucial stakeholders in the district’s progress.
“Persons with disabilities have valuable roles to play in the development of Pujehun District and should never be marginalized or left behind,” Kanyako stated. He highlighted the necessity of social inclusion, equal opportunities, and unified community efforts to build a more supportive society. He added that the association has successfully undertaken numerous initiatives across the district and will continue working toward the betterment of Pujehun.
Highlighting the selflessness behind the initiative, Emmanuel Desmond Gbessay Gbonda, the organization’s Finance Officer, revealed that the donation was funded entirely through contributions from UPDA members rather than external donor partners.
“Disability is not inability, and we are all potential candidates for disability,” Gbonda remarked. “We must treat persons with disabilities with dignity, care, and respect. They are essential members of our society who are fully capable of contributing to community development.”
Receiving the donation on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mohamed Sillah, the Pujehun District Coordinator for the Welfare Society for the Disabled (WESOFOD-SL), expressed appreciation for the association’s gesture while calling for long-term solutions.
“We sincerely appreciate this support, but it is always better to teach someone how to fish than to give them a fish that lasts for only a few days,” Sillah noted. He urged the UPDA to consider investing in skills development and vocational training programs for persons with disabilities to foster long-term self-reliance. Sillah also encouraged his peers within the disability community to proactively seek self-improvement and independence.
Adding to the appreciation, Madam Amie Kemokai—District Coordinator for the Sierra Leone Union on Disability Issues (SLUDI) and Southern Regional Commissioner for the National Council for Persons with Disabilities thanked the UPDA for their timely intervention. She appealed to the association to expand future outreach to hard-to-reach rural communities where persons with disabilities face the greatest hardship.
Madam Kemokai prayed for the continued success of the association, noting that while the donated food items provide immediate relief for a few days, sustained partnership and empowerment remain vital for the district’s future.
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