On January 23, 2024, President Julius Maada Bio convened a high-level meeting at State House to discuss the Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Care Bill 2024, which is currently under parliamentary consideration.
The meeting included government officials, religious and traditional leaders, women’s groups, civil society representatives, and other stakeholders.
In her presentation, Deputy Health Minister Jalikatu Mustapha made a strong case for the bill, highlighting its revisions to address concerns from the Inter-Religious Council and other groups. She emphasized President Bio’s unparalleled commitment to advancing women’s rights, noting that the bill aligns with international obligations, including the Maputo Protocol, and addresses critical issues such as teenage pregnancy and women’s reproductive health.
Hon. Abdulai Marray-Conteh provided an update on the bill’s legislative journey, noting that it has undergone two readings in Parliament and detailed scrutiny by the legislative committee. Of 18 position papers submitted during consultations, 16 were supportive. “We have incorporated many concerns raised by religious leaders, yet Parliament remains divided,” he said.
While the bill garnered strong support from women’s rights advocates and civil society groups, traditional and religious leaders voiced reservations. Paramount Chief Mima Kajue described the bill as “good” but lamented misinformation surrounding its provisions, calling for more public engagement. Bishop Akintayo Sam-Jolly expressed dissatisfaction with the consultation process and questioned data provided by the Ministry of Health, stating that only half of the religious community’s concerns had been addressed.
Women’s rights advocates delivered impassioned appeals for the bill’s passage. Dr. Aisha Fofana Ibrahim of the 50/50 Group called the bill “perfect” for safeguarding women’s rights and urged the President to ensure its enactment. Safiatu Tunis of the People’s Alliance for Reproductive Health Action (PARHA) cited the President’s public commitments to reducing maternal mortality, urging him to fulfill his promises.
Medical professionals also supported the bill, with Dr. Frances Wurie of the Sierra Leone Medical Women’s Association recounting harrowing experiences of teenage pregnancies and maternal deaths. “This bill will prevent unnecessary loss of life and provide critical reproductive health services,” she said.
In his keynote address, President Bio underscored the bill’s necessity, calling on Parliament to act decisively. “This is about saving lives. It is time for Parliament to rise above grandstanding and misinformation and pass this bill,” he declared. He defended provisions allowing safe termination in cases of rape, incest, fetal abnormalities, or threats to a mother’s life.
“Pray that your daughter is never a victim of rape or a medical complication requiring this bill’s protections,” the President said, emphasizing his administration’s commitment to life and women’s rights. He also reminded attendees of his leadership in abolishing the death penalty, framing the bill as a continuation of his pro-life values.
The President urged lawmakers, including the leader of government business and legislative committee chair present at the meeting, to finalize amendments and pass the bill. “We cannot achieve transformative change if we are timid,” he concluded.
Mr.President l am kindly asking you to call for a referendum in this matter we have our own values and cultures this bill is not part of us,
This so called safe motherhood bill again,
The actual underlying causes of teenage pregnancy and maternal deaths in the country is not being looked at all, instead, they are just wasting time on things that insults our values as true Africans ,all because they want to be in the good books of the so called America and other Western nations that give them free money to embezzle.
Abject poverty, poor reproductive health care system, lack of trained specialist to handle Reproductive health issues, corruption and bad governance are the major causes of all these, but no attention is being paid to them.
If you are to go to some of the districts and see their health structures you will know that we are not ready yet.
Check and see where Sierra Leone lies in terms of representative health complications, you will regret being a Sierra Leonean.
There’s Nothing in the world like “Safe abortion”.
Trust, the reason why most women in the interior refused to go to government health facilities for delivery is because they have no confidence in our health systems, they feel safer with the TBA’s than visit government health facilities.
So government needs to make policies that will not only be on paper but it’s implemented to the core.
We can do it YES WE CAN, we just need to stop focusing on these BAD bills and face reality.
Abormination to the highest, if you try this bill.
Oh Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on us Sierra Leoneans.
If people are calling abortion women’s right then I am now doubting this right stuff.
I may now believe that all these policies on gender issues are demonic and from Satan.
I don’t trust the process anymore. I will advice everyone reading right now whether male or female to deviate from this fake genda issue.
The word of God is final in all situation. What the word of said about men and women is sufficient enough. What our experts are doing is to defy God’s order. Please let us watch out.
Abortion is demonic and evil in all forms and shape no matter whether safe or dangerous.
May God fight all those who are trying to disturb His divine plan of multiplication.
Y is the so called educated people are the very one supporting abortion bill with do much demonic energy… Are they really educated? This is an abomination! Aren’t we having other pressing issues to address?
All of u supporting this ungodliness will never go unpunished, even your generation yet to come.Abobe all u all will end in HELL just like the anti Christ u’re are working for…