By Kadrie Koroma
The Ministry of Health and Sanitation with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and other partners has commemorated 2018 World Population Day on the theme: “Family Planning is a Human Right” on Monday July 16, 2018 at the Kambia District Council hall, Kambia town.
In his address, Health and Sanitation Minister, Dr. Alpha Tejan Wurie said the Tehran Human Rights conference of 13th May 1968, 50 years ago, where family planning was first recognized as a human right adopted a resolution titled “The dignity and worth of the human person,” notes the relationship between access to family planning and the status of women.
He informed his audience that according to the 2015 Census, the population of the country is just over seven million, and forty-two percent of the population is below 15 years and 30 percent are aged between 15-35 years. He said the population is relatively youthful with an annual growth rate of 3.2 percent, adding that the maternal mortality ratio is estimated at 1, 165 deaths per 100, 000 live births by the Demographic Health Survey (DHS) figures and even higher by United Nations estimates, whilst the infant mortality rate is 92/1, 000 live births.
Dr. Wurie emphasized that family planning supports the rights of the girl child to remain unmarried and childless, until she is physically, psychologically, and economically ready, and desires to bear children. He added that it supports the rights of adolescent boys and girls to information on how rapid, repeat pregnancies will affect their future.
He stated that family planning supports the rights of all people to accurate, unbiased information on contraceptive methods that can help them achieve their reproductive preferences. He further mentioned that family planning contributes to the reduction of poverty by reducing the population growth rate and thus reducing the burden of governments in poverty eradication, contributes to improved nutrition by helping women time, and space their pregnancies to ensure healthy nutritional outcomes.
The Minister said the districts with the lowest contraceptive prevalence rate are Kambia at five percent; Koinadugu at six percent; Moyamba at nine percent; Kono at 12 percent and Port Loko at 13, adding that it is sad to note that Kambia has the lowest prevalence rate in contraceptive use.
He reminded all that acknowledging the importance of family planning to the health and well-being of the people, they presently have over 1, 300 functioning family planning clinics in all districts of the country providing quality family planning services on a voluntary basis.
Dr. Wurie thanked UNFPA, DFID, Marie Stopes Sierra Leone, Planned Parenthood Association, and USAID for their positive contributions to these efforts, and expressed appreciation to their numerous partners who have supported them in the efforts to improve family planning services, and reposition it for the benefit of the country.
UNFPA Representative, Dr. Kim Dickson said World Population Day takes place every year on 11th July, and this year it coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Proclamation of family planning as a human right.
She told her audience that in Sierra Leone, the contraceptive prevalence rate was seven percent in 2008, and rose to 16 percent in 2013, adding that variations in the use of family planning depends on geographical location, education and economic status.
Dr. Dickson disclosed that in Sierra Leone, there is a high prevalence of teenage pregnancies where 30 percent of adolescent girls are already pregnant before their 19th birthday. She noted that teenage pregnancy contributes to 46.8 percent of maternal deaths, and 25 percent of maternal deaths are due to unsafe abortions among adolescents.
She reiterated that overall access to sexual reproductive health services for adolescents is low, with more than 86 percent of girls aged 15-19 having never used contraception, and 30.7 percent of this age group have an unmet need for family planning. She added that while the government has over 1, 300 health facilities offering family planning services, the 2017 UNFPA Reproductive Health Commodity Security Supplies Survey indicated that 75 percent of service delivery points, reported stock-outs of at least one modern contraceptive method.
The UNFPA Representative assured all that UNFPA will continue to work with the government of Serra Leone and key partners to ensure adolescent girls delay pregnancy, complete more years of schooling and are empowered to become economically productive, thereby reinforcing a cycle of healthy families.
United Nations Resident Coordinator, Mr. Sunil Saigal said it is a fact that family planning could prevent up to one-third of all maternal deaths by allowing women to delay motherhood, space births, avoid unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions, and stop childbearing when they have reached their desired family size.
Mr. Saigal told the gathering that access to contraceptive information is central to achieving gender equality.
He said to protect and fulfill the rights to family planning adequate financing for equitable access to services must be available.
The UN Resident Coordinator assured that the United Nations, through UNFPA is committed to continuing to work in partnership with the government of Sierra Leone on programmes that extend the reach of voluntary rights-based family planning services to women, men and adolescents who need them.
The Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Brima Kargbo who chaired the ceremony said family planning is a human right and the right for the woman, man and family to plan and decide on whether and when to have children, how many children and how to space them.
Highlights of the event included statements by the Chairman, Kambia District Council, Mohamed Yayah Bangura, Minister of Political and Public Affairs, Ambassador Foday Yumkella, and the Deputy Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Dr. Robert Tamba Michael Chakanda.