December 20, 2021
By: Hafsatu Z Bangura
Heal Salone in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Welfare at a press conference held on the 16th December 2021 informed journalists about their upcoming disable awards and voting process of the said award which will be taking place at the Family Kingdom on the 28th December 2021.
The Chief Executive Officer of Heal Salone Mr. Joseph Sannoh said the sole purpose of the awards is to preach against the stigmatization of disable people in the country as to help also minimize the street begging and for disable people to earn for themselves through the small project that government will provide for them.
Mr. Joseph Sannoh stressed on that Institutions that they reached out to in order to inform them about the awards and thrown in their support discredited disable people and made remarks that are unsatisfactory and inhumane saying that they do not employ disable people neither do they have the stairs to fit the needs of disable people to work in their institution’s.
He continued that though there are institutions that do support disable persons, institutions like the banks, ministries and so much and that these institutions have relentlessly thrown in their support towards such programs for disability people.
He said the awards are categorized into different categories and that there are over 30 awards for disable persons. The categories are outlined Best Disable Student, Best Disable lecturer or teacher, best disable Musician, and Best disable Farmer / Indigenous, Best Sportsman of the year, Best Financial Institutions of the year that supports persons with disability, disable company of the year, best disable friendly agency of the year, best Media Agency that supports disable persons Best disable Actor/ Actress of the year.
The CEO continued that the process of voting is through three ways that is through an SMS through which the candidate of choice will be nominated to the number +23274080808 or +23233080808 or by What Sapp indicating your nominee, full name of your nominee, picture of your nominee, contact and proof of what they have done and Institution and also through email newseduactionsl@gmail.com if you are staying abroad and unable to vote you can use the email method od the what Sapp method.
He said Voting have commenced since Friday and encouraged members of the public to support persons with disability as disability is not inability, he said disable persons are marginalized both at Institutional Levels and they have talent hence the reason for the awards to showcase the abilities and qualities of persons living with disability.
Voting have commenced and voting closes on the 26th at midnight as judges have to collate these votes and voting can be done only once a day per nominee 3 top nominees will be selected and one with the highest vote cast wins the awards. He said also that awards will be given also to institutions, Media houses and individual’s that have supported persons living with disability as the awards does not only focuses on nominees living in Freetown but also the provinces and that this is not the first time of organizing such awards as this has been done four times in 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2021 that will be held.
He concluded that the awards would have happened in 2020 but due to the outbreak of coronavirus it was unfortunate for it not to be held. Mr. Joseph Sannoh continued that star prizes would be given to winners ranging from 5million to 1million.
Mr. Abdul S Kamara Admin Manager also buttress on the awards and for members for the public to help support their work and to encourage persons with disability.