At Police Headquarters in Freetown, the Inspector General of Police – Mr. William Fayia Sellu yesterday (18/10/22), received in audience the Director of Programmes – Mr. Thaimu Kargbo and the Advocacy and Communications Officer – Madam Sylvia Hebron of Planned Parenthood Association – Sierra Leone (PPASL). They were visiting the IGP with the view to, in the first place, officially congratulate him, following his appointment to the Office in July, 2022, and to also intimate him about a seven million dollars funding they had received from Global Affairs, to address sexual and reproductive issues.

Briefing the IGP, Mr. Kargbo revealed that the project will be implemented in 15 chiefdoms in the Kailahun District. He appealed to the IGP to be a member of the *Steering/Advisory Committee* at the national level – a Committee, he said, will compose of other line ministries and to be led by Save the Children – Sierra Leone.

The appeal for the IGP to be a member of the Committee, Mr Kargbo maintained, that it was predicated on the fact that they see the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) as key stakeholders in the fight against sexual and gender based violence SGBV), through the Family Support Unit (FSU).
He praised the work of the FSU and considered the Unit to be an integral part to enhancing the success of the project.

IGP Fayia Sellu, while responding, thanked the team for the engagement and wasted no time in reaffirming his commitment to supporting the project. He gave his expressed and unwavering approval to serve in the Steering Committee of the project; noting, that his decision was motivated by the sensitive issues the project seeks to address.

It is natural that he was pleased that the project will be implemented in his district. He however called on PPASL to explore ways of extending same to other districts in the country. Mr. Fayia Sellu promised the team that the SLP will support every effort of the project; and revealed that the Police Wives Association are also working on a similar project with UNICEF.