By Francis H. Murray
Save the Children Sierra Leone with support from its partners has ended its adolescent sexual and reproductive health project titled “mek wi tok bot mamie en daddi biziness” (let’s talk about sex).
The project which started in 2019, focuses on raising awareness about the negative effects of teenage pregnancy and to advocate for good services in terms of adolescent sexual reproductive health and has been implemented in four communities in the Western Area including Murray Town, Aberdeen, Cockle Bay and Connaught.
The project was borne out of the worrying spate of child marriages with data put together by the organization suggesting that adolescent pregnancy is the driving force behind child marriage with 13% of girls marrying by the age of 15 while 39% of girls marry by the age of 18.
Speaking at the closing ceremony organised at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Freetown, the Country Director of Save the Children Heather-Marie Campbell expressed thanks and appreciation to the young champions whom she referred to as the driving force behind the project’s success.
“Through your efforts, we have been able to achieve so much. In just two years, we’ve seen a number of adolescents blossom into young advocates, speaking out about sexual reproductive health rights, calling on decision makers for stronger policies and better investment in children,” she noted.
She also thanked their partners for their help in the development and rollout of the much acclaimed Game Application which was designed to bring sex education closer to the targeted young people.
Representing Rainbo Initiative, one of the implementing partners of the project, the Deputy Executive Director Gibril Kargbo stated that they had seen the two years as an opportunity to engage young people in light of the many challenged they face with teenage pregnancy and reproductive health and family planning. He added that they felt the need to invest in young people because of their vulnerable state and urged community health service providers to review their approach in ensuring greater access of health care services among adolescents.
Explaining the reason for the partnership, Hassan Kamara, one of the facilitators of the project from Limkokwing University and a mentor for the innovation hub, noted that it came about as a result of the need for a working Mobile Game Application that is user- friendly to young people.
He noted that the application was designed to sensitize young minds especially young girls in order to minimize the high rate of teenage pregnancy and 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 later on, adding that the application was customized to reflect the challenges faced by young girls.
Administrative Officer of the Family Support Unit Lansana Tawarally stated that because their mandate is to investigate all cases related to sexual and gender based violence and enforce the existing laws put in place by the State in order to address offensive acts against citizens, partnering with Save the Children had yielded the expected dividend.
He maintained that with community policing being their main strategy in resolving cases, the partnership had supported them with some of their basic needs as law enforcement officers in carrying out their activities and timely reaching out to communities that were inaccessible before.
He urged the project’s sponsors and partners to ensure that other equally vulnerable communities in the Western Area benefit from the project.
Sharing her experience throughout the project, community volunteer covering Murray Town and Connaught Mabel Augusta Momorie disclosed that before the project, discussions around sex with parents was a taboo, but that they have now been enlightened and empowered to have a say in sexual and reproductive health and growth as teenagers.
She thanked Save the Children and their partners for what she referred to as “quality awareness raising” on sexual and reproductive health issues and for raising them as champions to take the message of the negative effects of adolescent pregnancy to her communities and how it could be prevented.
Community volunteer from Aberdeen and Cockle Bay Daniel Ibrahim Kamara said that although the project was officially ending, they as young champions will not be shut up but will continue to raise awareness in their respective communities.
Copyright © Politico Online (01/04/21)
