Amputees Speak on Harsh Living Conditions
The 11-year brutal civil war in Sierra Leone brought a wave of indiscriminate amputations, leaving many Sierra Leoneans with severe challenges.
In northern Sierra Leone, war victims, primarily amputees, face numerous difficulties ranging from personal struggles to community-wide problems. After the civil war, a camp was established in Makeni for amputees and war-wounded individuals, according to Alimamy Conteh, a war amputee. This Amputee Camp is home to many whose limbs were severed during the conflict. Unfortunately, the community lacks basic social amenities, resulting in significant hardships for its residents.
Gbessay Kamara, a resident, highlighted that the camp has only one source of safe drinking water, exposing many to diseases such as typhoid and diarrhea. “There is only one well in this community. It is, in fact, a community well. It is the only source of safe drinking water here,” Kamara said. “Most times, people go down to the stream to fetch drinking water. You know how unsafe this type of water is. Some people bathe and defecate in it. No wonder we are always diagnosed with either typhoid or diarrhea.”
Alimamy Conteh added that the community also lacks a health center, causing patients from Amputee Camp to endure excruciating pain before reaching the hospital. The camp is located on the outskirts of Makeni, several miles from the Government Hospital.
According to the war-wounded, donations from both government and non-governmental organizations were their main livelihood but have ceased in recent years. This cessation has exacerbated their suffering, especially for those incapacitated and unable to fend for themselves. Despite these challenges, Alimamy Conteh, an amputee father of six, hawks fruit and other goods. “Selling fruit during Luma is now my main livelihood since donations are no longer coming,” Conteh said.
He added that his attempts to secure a better source of income have been futile, as potential employers often refer to him as a “half human.” “Every so often, I try to get a job, but people shun me. Some even refer to me as a half human, because of my condition,” he explained.
