By Bampia James Bundu
Several girls who attended a one-day training yesterday on the effect of Ebola on education and teenage pregnancy in the country have expressed concern over teenage pregnancy and the lack of education.
Schools have not reopened since July because of concerns of the spread of Ebola.
The training was organised by Community Action to Restore Lives (CARL).
One of the girls, Zainab Kamara, a Thunder Hill community resident, told the training that “most of our friends are pregnant due to the idleness at home. We are tired of being at home. We call on the government to do all it can to stop Ebola in the country. I don’t want to get pregnant now but the temptations are many, more so when things are this hard” she said.
She assured that they would all go back to their various communities and serve as ambassadors on teenage pregnancy and Ebola.
Addressing participants at the workshop, CARL’s Chief Executive Officer, Madiana Samba, said domestic violence, rape, sexual harassment at work, abuse in schools, female circumcision and sexual violence were very common in countries faced with crises such as war or epidemics like Ebola. She said the effect of Sexual and Gender Based Violence on girls, particularly, had translated into the high report and evidence of teenage pregnancy within the country.
She revealed that they had hence decided to focus this year’s 16 days of activism on Ebola and teenage pregnancy in not only Sierra Leone, but also in the sub-region.
“We use these days to raise awareness on issues and remind policy makers of their commitments to support the elimination of serious human rights violations meted on women and girls”, Samba said.
She stated that the Ebola outbreak had not only destroyed the education of young people in the country but that it had also led to the increase in teenage pregnancy and early marriage.
“We hope to create a situation wherein young boys and girls can go into their communities and talk to their peers on the effect of Ebola on education, and encourage them to abstain from casual sex”, the CARL chief explained, adding that participants would be empowered to undertake door-to-door campaigns in their respective communities.
CARL’s Programme Manager, Alie Turay, assured that they would continue to engage young boys and girls on the aforementioned topic so as to give them the opportunity to serve as ambassadors in their different communities.
“The collective effort of all is needed in the fight against Ebola, no matter your age or sex. We should all join forces in helping the government to fight Ebola out of the country.
The training was supported by Education for All Coalition Sierra Leone, Community Action to Restore Lives and targeted students and pupils from various communities in the Western Area Urban.
© Politico 09/12/14
