International non-governmental organisation, Marie Stopes Sierra Leone has issued an urgent appeal for a stronger national response to the country’s escalating underage pregnancy crisis, stressing the need for better protections and inclusive health policies.

Awoko reports that the call was made during a recent media training session held at Wharf Road, Deep Eye Water, in the Western Area Rural District.

The session, which brought together journalists and Marie Stopes staff, focused on implementing Sierra Leone’s National Strategy for the Reduction of Adolescent Pregnancy and Ending Child Marriage. Sandy Massaquoi, Advocacy and Outreach Manager at Marie Stopes, emphasized the alarming shift in reproductive health trends, with pregnancies now affecting girls as young as eight.

“We are no longer just talking about teenage pregnancy—we are seeing adolescent pregnancies in children as young as eight,” Massaquoi said. “This demands a new approach to safeguarding our girls.”

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She also raised concerns about the mistreatment of pregnant adolescents in healthcare facilities, warning that stigma and discrimination could deter them from seeking medical help, worsening the country’s health crisis.

Marie Stopes is addressing the issue through its Youth for Health Project, launched in June 2022 and running until June 2025. The initiative targets 12,000 adolescent girls in Port Loko, Kambia, and the Western Area Rural District, using school clubs and healthcare provider training to combat teen pregnancy and improve reproductive health education.

Victor Karim, Communications Admin Specialist at the National Secretariat of Teenage Pregnancy, highlighted troubling trends. While global adolescent pregnancy rates are declining, Africa still records some of the highest numbers. He noted a direct link between early pregnancy and child marriage, citing global data showing 640 million girls and women were married before 18.

Karim also shared alarming national statistics: a 2019 report showed a sharp rise in adolescents treated for sexually transmitted infections—from 16.8% in 2013 to 44.2% in 2019—reflecting growing reproductive health risks for young girls.

Marie Stopes Sierra Leone is urging immediate, coordinated action to address the crisis and protect the nation’s girls from escalating health and social challenges.