By Saio Marrah
The President of the Children’s Forum Network, Amadu Barrie has during the 2023 girls-health summit called on the government to allocate a specific budget line to mental health in the country.
Barrie told the Summit organized by West Africa Women and Girls Empowerment Sierra Leone (WAWGE-SL) at the Freetown City Hall last week that the specific budget line is of urgency considering the increase in the intake of the harmful drug, Kush among youths.
He called on government to collaborate with None Governmental Organisations to help in mitigating mental health related issues.
Barrie told the participants that reproductive health is among the diseases on the rise in West Africa and suggested the establishment of policies on reproductive health care services that would allow girls to freely go for contraceptives and other related services.
He also stressed on confidentiality of the girls when going for such services.
The Student Union President of the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM), Salamatu Jagitay said 25 percent of undergraduate students are mothers, which makes it necessary for policies on reproductive health.
Jagitay observed that most students in universities in the country do not pay attention to their mental health issues, leading to underperformance by the students.
While acknowledging that education is very important, she also noted that without good health, education would be questionable.
She therefore called on students to make it a norm to do medical check ups and not necessarily when they get sick. “A healthy student becomes a better learner,” she noted.
The UNFPA country representative Nadia Rasheed, said their mission is to create a world where every girl and everyone is safe.
She applauded Sierra Leone’s First Lady, Fatima Bio for protecting the girl-child in the country by introducing the “Hands off Our Girls” initiative. According to her, the initiative has brought many changes.
She pointed out that the First Lady’s initiative has motivated many people within and out of the country.
Ms. Rasheed admitted that Sierra Leone is far ahead in that regard, but pointed out that there are still huge challenges in that sphere.
While expressing her gratitude to the government for the enactment of Gender Act 2022, Rasheed also called for prevention of gender based violence which she said should have no place in society.
WAWGE-SL programme director, Mariam Janneh had earlier pointed out that some girls in rural communities have limited access to accurate information about reproductive health and the importance of safe practices.
The summit with the theme ‘Breaking Barriers on Adolescent Girls Health’ targeted 500 participants and addressed lack of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (16/10/23)
