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In a position paper addressed to the Legislative Committee at the Parliament building, the Adolescent and Youth Mechanism has voiced strong support for the Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Care Act, 2024.
Representing the largest segment of Sierra Leone’s population, the youth advocates underscored their commitment to tackling the persistent challenges of maternal mortality, teenage pregnancy, and reproductive health inequities that disproportionately affect young people, women, and mothers in the country.
The group expressed deep concern over the alarming rates of teenage pregnancy in Sierra Leone, with over 30% of girls aged 15-19 becoming mothers.
They emphasized that the Act presents an opportunity to empower adolescents through comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education. This education would equip young people with knowledge to make informed decisions, prevent unplanned pregnancies, and reduce their vulnerability to maternal health risks.
“Many young people face stigma and judgment when accessing reproductive health care,” the position paper noted, highlighting the urgent need for youth-friendly health services.
The Act, according to the advocates, promises non-judgmental and accessible care tailored to the specific needs of adolescents, addressing a significant barrier to reproductive health services for young people.
A critical aspect of the Act supported by the youth mechanism is its potential to end unsafe abortions. They highlighted how a lack of resources, education, and access to safe reproductive care forces many young women to seek unsafe procedures, contributing significantly to maternal deaths in Sierra Leone. The Act, they argued, would provide safe and regulated options for terminating pregnancies under specific circumstances, ultimately saving lives.
“This is not just about improving health outcomes,” the statement emphasized, “but about securing a better future for all young people in our country.”
The Adolescent and Youth Mechanism called on Members of Parliament to pass the Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Care Act, urging them to recognize the transformative impact it would have on the lives of women, mothers, and adolescents nationwide.
The youth advocates concluded their statement by reiterating their commitment to raising awareness, educating their peers, and supporting efforts to ensure equitable access to reproductive health care for all Sierra Leoneans.
