By Mohamed K. Turay
Health Alert Sierra Leone, in collaboration with its partners and donors, on Wednesday 8 November 2023 concluded a one-day discussion on media campaign on Sexual Reproductive Health Services at the Christian Health Association Sierra Leone (CHASL) hall at Kingharman Road in Freetown.
Dr Sylvia Fasuluku, the District Medical Officer (DMO) in the Western Rural whilst making her contribution, noted that “cultural barriers do exist which serve as a stumbling block for young girls accessing SRH services”. She noted that since the country’s population was dominated by young people, it was “incumbent on us all to remove those barriers for an assured future of these youths”.
She noted that the Ministry of Health and Sanitation appreciated Health Alert for its advocacy to ensure that these services reach the targeted beneficiaries and spread countrywide.
Dr Fasuluku said the Western Rural and beyond remained areas where young girls were deeply deprived from SRH Services and hence increased in teenage pregnancy but that she was proud to state that infant maternal mortality had been reduced by 45%
Sahr Pessima, the Deputy Director of Programmes at Marie Stopes, stated that the three years project would be concentrated in the Western Rural, Port Loko District, and Kambia District and that it would end in 2025.
He noted that, “Health Alert carries the advocacy aspect of the project because of its track record over the years advocating for better health for all”.
Mr Pessima said the three districts were selected based on the fact that they still report high cases of teenage pregnancy and that their desire was to make the country a better place for adolescents where everyone was allowed to make their choice.
He said by the end of the project, there should be an increase in awareness on SRHS; an increase in public sector willingness and information, and people having the right to access health services without barriers.
Dalton John, the Programme Manager for Health Alert, identified the challenges in accessing SRHs particularly in the rural areas which, he noted, was associated with the negative attitude towards contraceptive use.
Mr John said most PHUs were also lacking of the necessary facilities to provide family Planning counselling to adolescents, noting that there were still glaring statistics as to the use of contraceptive across the country, hence the need for more awareness.
Earlier, Health Alert Executive Director, Victor Lansana Koroma, gave an overview of the meeting which, he stated, would go a long way in addressing the SRH issues in the country.
Mr Koroma appealed to the government to allocate a special budget for Family Planning.
The session ended with responses from participants drawn from PHUs countrywide who commended Health Alert for its advocacy and for making them as a priority.