By Mohamed T. Massaquoi
President Julius Maada Bio has lamented the high rate of teenage pregnancy in the southern Pujehun District, where he said sexual violence, particularly rape, was also at an alarming level and called for urgent action.
Addressing the people of Pujehun during his long overdue “Thank you visit” to the district headquarters town from December 18 to 19, President Bio also decried the prevalence of early marriage, which he noted had a negative impact on the future of the girl. The Sierra Leonean leader cited statistics indicating that some 80 percent of school going girls were giving birth at below the age of 18.
“We are not fair with our selves. In this country, it will surprise you to know that even three years old children are being raped. Rape is the worst abuse of human rights. In Pujehun, an 11-year old girl has been raped and presently admitted at the government hospital,” Bio stated, stressing that his government was against any form of abuse against women and girls.
He added: “Early marriage is a threat to the development of our teenage girls. The issue of early marriage is very close to my heart.”
President Bio also expressed concern that this trend of sexual abuse, teenage pregnancy and early marriage had the potential to undermine his human capital development agenda if not given serious attention.
According to him, the ‘New Direction’ administration can only succeed with its flagship Free Quality Education programme if girls were given the chance to learn in a safe environment without men impregnating them at an early stage.
It was Bio’s first visit to the district where he attended primary school, since he was elected into office in April 2018. The visit had been repeatedly delayed, much to the disappointment of the people who have longed to not just catch a glimpse of one of their own but also solicit his personal support to resolve the many problems facing their district.
Pujehun, located in the southern most end of the country, shares bothers with two other southern districts – Bo and Bonthe, as well as Kenema in the east. Pujehun is one of the most deprived districts in the country, characterized by deplorable road network and lack of social amenities like electricity and unavailability of clean and safe drinking water for the majority of the population. This is despite the district being home to some of the most educated and politically well placed people in the country.
President Bio said his appointment of two Pujehun indigenes to his cabinet – in the positions of Minister of Planning and Economic Development and Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education – among many other key government appointments, was a deliberate move meant to offer the district the opportunity to solve its problems.
“Pujehun District voted for me overwhelmingly, to the point that I was even worried for my vote not to exceed the required number,” the president joked.
“So I cannot pay all of you for what you have done for me, but the best is for me to educate your children and that is why I brought into the country the Free Quality Education,” he stated.
Bio went on to say that he was surprised seeing a recent report published by the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education in which only one candidate from the district was revealed to have got a university requirement.
“There is need for serious discussion on the education system of Pujehun District. I went to primary school in this district and today I am the president of this country. No one should hide behind the excuse of his or her present location to limit his or her future. Education will empower even the poorest of the poor,” he said.
The president revealed that his government had approved 172 primary, 23 Junior Secondary and six Senior Secondary schools in the district. He promised to extend electricity supply to the district, noting that he would also look for donor intervention to complete the 16-mile road connecting it to neighboring Bo.
While in Pujehun, Bio commissioned a 1000watts transmitter procured for the oldest community radio station in the district - Radio Wanjei.
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