The Executive Director of the Initiative for Women and Youth Empowerment (IWYE), Madam Musu Weenor Davis has called on the Government of Liberia and the Liberia National Legislature to prioritize family planning as a matter of urgency.
She said it is essential to significantly bolster the budget allocation for family planning within the Ministry of Health budget, as family planning is key to preventing unwanted pregnancies.
Given the disturbing rise in teenage pregnancy rates in rural and semi-rural communities across Liberia, Madam Davis said Thursday March 13, in an interview with LINA at her organization’s headquarters in Monrovia that there is a need for immediate and decisive action.
She stated that investing in family planning is not just a necessity; it is a fundamental obligation to safeguard the health and future of the youth of Liberia.
Mrs. Davis emphasized that Liberia, like many other sub-Saharan countries, is confronted with serious challenges regarding Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR).
She stated that the youthful population of Liberia, mainly young women and girls between the ages of 13 to 18, continue to become victims of teenage pregnancy as many of them, particularly those in the rural part of the country, have dropped out of school.
According to her, this is because of the lack of proper education on the importance of the usage of contraceptives and government failure to prioritize family planning.
Mrs. Davis further lamented that there is poor family planning service delivery across Liberia, stressing that the ill is even worse in rural communities as nurses lack adequate medical supplies and national government attention, causing the unavailability of contraceptive services across the country.
Mrs. Davis also stated that currently, Liberia is grappling with alarmingly high maternal mortality rates and a significant lack of access to contraceptive and family planning services across the 15 political subdivisions of the country.
“If you take time to travel to rural areas within this country, sadly, you will come back and share tears as many potential young women and girls have fallen victim to unwanted pregnancies,” she stated.
She maintained that there are almost no available family planning services in almost all “our health centers in the rural parts of this country,” adding that nurses lack motivation.
Madam Davis recounted that in the past, US$20 thousand was allocated to provide adequate family planning services across 15 counties.
“With all of the advocacy done, nothing was added until the current government came in and added US$20 thousand. We are grateful though, but we think the government can do more. Even US$40 thousand isn’t enough for an entire country. Let the allotment for family planning reflect the government’s passion and commitment to the country’s youth as they strive to make informed health decisions,” he added.
Madam Davis emphasized that safeguarding the future of Liberia’s dynamic and youthful population is of utmost importance.
The IWYE Chief Executive underscored the need to confront critical issues that pose a serious threat to the well-being of the youth, arguing that they deserve immediate and focused attention.
In a sad tone, she drew attention to the distressing trend of girls aged 13 to 18, particularly in rural communities, who are forced to abandon their education due to unplanned pregnancies.
She asserted that this troubling reality cannot be ignored, citing that it calls for swift and decisive action to address the myriad health-related challenges these young girls are faced with daily.
Madam Davis further urged all civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, and community-based groups to ramp up their advocacy efforts for meaningful change, stating that collective action is essential for creating a brighter future for Liberia’s youth.
The Liberia National Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Policy of 2010 addressed the need for roundtable efforts to improve the SRHR of its youthful population with a key focus on women, youth, and the rural and semi-rural populations.
Hence, it is established that the formulation and subsequent implementation of an SRHR policy will ensure a coordinated, integrated, harmonious delivery of comprehensive SRHR services that will improve the overall health of the population of the country.
However, not much has been done by past and present governments to address this, as there remains a significant opportunity to enhance family planning services to enable families, especially women and girls, to make informed decisions.
IWYE is a registered non-governmental organization which has been championing the call for positive change through advocacy since it was established in 2015. IWYE, formerly “Girl For Literacy,” has helped empower hundreds of girls, women, and youth over the years. LINA