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Dr. Austin Demby, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Health, has emphasized significant progress on the Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Care Bill.
The bill, which has been under discussion for the past three years, aims to strengthen reproductive health care and maternal rights in the country.
Minister Demby stated that the bill has undergone extensive consultations with all relevant stakeholders, including religious leaders, civil society, and healthcare professionals. “There is no secret about this bill. We have been talking about it for the past three years, engaging in discussions with all relevant parties,” he said.
The bill has already been read in Parliament, with the Speaker referring it to a committee for further review. According to the Minister, 18 position papers were submitted during the consultation process, with 16 expressing support for the bill and two raising specific concerns.
“We have actively consulted stakeholders and made amendments to strengthen the bill. These amendments were sent to Parliament and the Inter-Religious Council for review,” Dr. Demby explained. He noted that many of the changes were based on feedback from religious leaders, whose concerns were incorporated to make the bill more inclusive and robust.
The Minister expressed gratitude to President Julius Maada Bio for convening a meeting with all concerned parties to address their views. “The President has described this as a strong bill in the interest of women, and we are grateful for his support,” he said.
Dr. Demby also highlighted the evolution of the bill, acknowledging that while it initially focused on a mother’s right to her body, it has since been refined to address broader societal sensitivities. “We wanted to drive it from the standpoint of a mother’s right to her body, but we have factored in the concerns raised to make it a stronger and more comprehensive bill,” he added.
The Health Minister urged Parliament to unite, consider all suggestions, and pass the bill into law.
