By Francis H. Murray
Save the Children Sierra Leone, a non-governmental organization that seeks solutions to the challenges faced by children in Sierra Leone has in partnership with other organizations conducted a campaign walk aimed at raising awareness on the negative effects of adolescent pregnancy.
The event which took place over the weekend under the theme (mi bodi nar mi right) was part of activities commemorating 16 days of activism which started on the 25th October 2020.
The campaign walk started at the Bus Halt point in Brookfields and continued through Congo Cross, Murray Town, Aberdeen and later ended at the Mohamed Kallon car park at the Aberdeen beach, where participants staged plays and dramatized key messages on the negative consequences of teenage pregnancy and sexual and gender based violence.
It attracted young adolescent champions, partners including Rainbow Initiative and Limkokwing University, the police as well as entertainers dressed in t-shirts displaying banners with inscribed messages preaching against the dangers of teenage pregnancy and other impediments to reproductive sexual health rights services.
Explaining the idea behind the exercise, Bridgette Lewis, Project Coordinator Save the Children said that the campaign was initiated from the adolescent sexual reproduction health game application that was developed by the young adolescents and students of Limkokwing University.
She noted that the activity was designed to see how best they could amplify and advocate on the negative impact of teenage pregnancy and also to improve access to sexual reproductive health services within the communities.
‘‘The key objectives of this campaign initiated by the champions and the young adolescent themselves is to continue to talk about the negative effects of teenage pregnancy in our communities and to advocate for good services in terms of adolescent sexual reproductive health because this has been a challenge faced by young girls in various communities. Although some of these communities or Peripheral Health Units (PHUs) have some of the facilities, yet the adolescents have not been able to access these facilities as they ought to. So they want to continue to make their voices heard and to raise attention to the general public or government so that such services could be increased in communities,’’ she explained.
She added that because the children themselves developed key messages and are at the forefront of the campaign, it meant that they have come to the realization that adolescent health issues, their protection and education, are paramount and should be respected and always accessible.
She continued to note that the project is being implemented in four communities in the Western Area which are Murray Town, Aberdeen, Kooky Bay and Connaught, adding that plans were on the way to replicate the activities in other parts of the country.
Explaining about the mobile application, Hassan Kamara, one of the facilitators of the project from Limkokwing University and a mentor for the innovation hub, noted that the Application was designed to sensitize young minds especially young girls in order to minimize the high rate of teenage pregnancy and to help them not to become victims.
‘‘The application helps to educate adolescents about the use of contraceptives, early marriages, sexually transmitted infections or diseases and even on Covid which was incorporated at this later part,’’ he noted, adding that the application was customized to reflect the challenges faced by young girls.
He said that the Application could be accessed on Google play by just typing ‘mi bodi nar mi right’ and it would popup, and offers features such as messages gathered from the communities, TV slots, jingles, social media animation and graphic designs.
Bob Lamin, senior communications officer Rainbow Initiative, an organization that provides free medical services and psychosocial support to victims of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV), said that based on their operational areas, they consider the event as one of their community outreach programs which he said gives them the opportunity to sensitize communities in relation to SGBV.
He added that the 16 days activism is strategic to ensure that the intended impact is felt in the communities.
Mabel Augusta Momorie, Community volunteer for Murray Town and Connaught told reporters that the campaign was timely especially in the wake of the surge in cases of violence against women and girls, adding that the platform would yield the intended dividend as it is championed by adolescents themselves.
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