By Mathew Kanu
The Mayor of the northern city of Makeni has committed herself to the fight against teenage pregnancy in her municipality and in the rest of the region. Speaking at the launch of a national strategy on the reduction of teenage pregnancy, Sunkarie Kaba Kamara assured that by the end of 2013, the 60% of girls who become pregnant in the northern region would be “drastically reduced”. Teenage pregnancy is the third most common reason for girls dropping out of school in Sierra Leone with 34% of all pregnancies being under 18 years. Northern Sierra Leone is the hardest hit. The strategy was jointly put together by the UN population fund (UNFPA), the UN children’s agency (UNICEF), Plan Sierra Leone and the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs. It looks at key areas like the creation of an enabling environment for a better reproductive health system, provision of health services, education and child protection. The launch was in observance of the World Population Day. Officially launching the strategy, wife of the Vice President, Kadijah Sam-Samsuna said it would change the lives of many women in the country, which she said required the collaboration of all sectors. She said that with the strategy it was expected that teenage pregnancy would be reduced by 2015. “The support and dedication of all Sierra Leoneans will make a difference to all women in Sierra Leone and the promotion of the girl child education in general” Mrs Sam-Sumana said, adding “We have also engaged traditional and religious leaders in the fight”. 18-year-old Aminata Kamara of the Makeni Comprehensive Academy Secondary, who was among hundreds of secondary school pupils at the launch, said that the strategy to curb teenage pregnancy was “a step in the right direction” and urged government to be more serious with it. Andrew Sesay, a student of the Benevolent Islamic Secondary School in Makeni vowed to complete his university education without impregnating a woman. UNFPA population expert, Ibrahim Sesay said that his organization’s goal in the country was to prevent teenage pregnancy. He encouraged girls to aim high and complete university to contribute positively to nation building. The national coordinator for the reduction of teenage pregnancy in Sierra Leone, Patricia Bah said that the major causes of teenage pregnancy were peer group influence and the lack of parental care in the home.
