Ministry of Health Hosts Workshop on Gender and Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights with University Youth Groups
By: Musa Kamara [Intern Reporter, Epic Radio]
The Ministry of Health has convened a workshop on Gender and Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) with university youth groups at the Freetown City Hall. The session brought together representatives from the Ministry of Health, university youth groups, health experts, civil society activists, facilitators, and gender specialists from across the country to deliberate on pressing issues affecting young people and women.
Speaking at the event, the keynote speaker and coordinator of the workshop, Madam Emmanuella K. Anderson from the Directorate of Policy, Planning and Information at the Ministry of Health, stated the objectives of the engagement.
“One of our key objectives is to empower university youths to meaningfully contribute to Sierra Leone’s development agenda by promoting gender equality,” she said. “We also want to enhance students’ understanding of sexual and reproductive health rights, and support them to identify these issues in their communities and universities—so they can serve as champions and ambassadors in addressing them.”
Highlighting the broader context, Anderson noted that while progress has been made in maternal health, challenges remain. “In 2019, maternal mortality was at 717 per 100,000 live births. In 2020, the UN estimated the figure at 443 per 100,000, and by 2023, we are now at 354. This shows progress, but women are still dying every day,” she explained.
She stressed that these numbers translate to at least three women dying daily from maternal-related causes. “Some of these deaths are driven by social and cultural factors within families and communities,” she added.
The workshop also underscored the urgent need to address adolescent sexual and reproductive health. Statistics reveal that over 22% of girls aged 15–19 have been pregnant or have had a child, while the adolescent fertility rate remains high at 105 births per 1,000 girls. Early marriage is also prevalent, with one-third of girls marrying before the age of 18.
Another major concern raised was the persistence of female genital mutilation (FGM), which continues to affect approximately 83% of women and girls in Sierra Leone.
While 83% of births now take place in health facilities, challenges remain. Around 24% of married women have unmet family planning needs, highlighting a significant gap in access to reproductive health services and information, particularly for young people and marginalized groups.
Contributing to the discussion, Regina M. Kenneh, District Health Sister II and Midwife for the Western Area Rural, emphasized the importance of embedding gender perspectives in all aspects of reproductive health.
“Gender is an important issue in our communities, schools, and universities. It does not only mean male or female—it has many implications,” she said. “Integrating gender perspectives in sexual and reproductive health rights is essential to achieving equality.”
Kenneh raised concerns about discrimination faced by teenagers when accessing family planning or reproductive health services. “Most times, when young people go to health facilities, they are often discriminated against. But they too have rights—especially the right to care for their health,” she stressed.
She further highlighted that reducing inequality would help ensure everyone has access to healthcare, regardless of age, gender, race, or region. “Promoting gender equality is not just about fairness—it goes beyond that,” Kenneth concluded.
Adding another perspective, Umie Raisa Amara, Midwife and District Health Sister II for the Western Area Urban, explained the challenges faced by women in accessing safe delivery. “Many women struggle to access safe delivery services. The issue is not only about giving birth—sometimes children are born without fathers, and these children become a burden not only to the families but to the country at large,” she said.
Youth voices also played an important role in the workshop. Joseph Saidu Dumbuya, a student at Fourah Bay College (FBC), pledged that young people will actively campaign against gender-based discrimination. “Female students are being deprived of certain privileges, and we must challenge this. We will also help raise awareness on sexual and reproductive health, because many young people still do not know enough about it,” he said.
The gender dimension is critical because inequalities, cultural norms, and discrimination often limit women, adolescents, and marginalized groups from accessing care. Globally, SRH is recognized as a fundamental human right and is closely linked to Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality). In Sierra Leone, while progress has been made, challenges remain with adolescent pregnancy, early marriage, female genital mutilation, and unmet family planning needs. Addressing these issues is not just a health concern but also a matter of human rights and national development.
The workshop ended with a strong call for urgent investment in youth-focused interventions, improved access to reproductive health services, and stronger partnerships between government, academia, and civil society in advancing gender equality and SRHR in Sierra Leone.
