Source: mysierraleoneonline.com

Post EVD recovery strategy is currently a high-table agenda of government and development partners in Sierra Leone. Specifically reclaiming girls from the lost paths in the course of their development is in top gear as was demonstrated this past Saturday at the well packed Kissy Town Community Hall in Waterloo, Western Rural District as the Girl Child Network engaged the community in an open dialogue and awareness raising forum on the importance of girl-child education and the role of the community to discourage early sex and teenage pregnancy.

The programme, organized by Girl Child Network- Sierra Leone attracted eminent personalities, development practitioners and gender experts such as Dr. Mary Okumu -Country Representative, UN WOMEN; Naheed Ahmed – Programme Specialist, UN Women; Rosaline Ongeri - Health Practioner & Girl Child Advocate. Community participation was climaxed by the presence of the town Chief, Ya-Almamy Sheriff, the Deputy Headman-Osman Kargbo and other relevant stakeholders.

From proven researches, it is no more a secret that early childbearing is common in Sierra Leone: one out of three pregnancies occur among teenage girls (SL DHS 2008). Teenage pregnancies have negative effects on the survival of girls: 40% of maternal deaths occur among teenage girls (MICS 2010).

Compounding this challenge further is the EVD outbreak which has also crippled education nationwide. Speculations are that teenage pregnancy has doubled, which is yet to be authenticated through credible research data. But it is estimated that 53% of the population affected by EVD are women and girls.

Evidently, through a sustained effort with development partners such as UN agencies, NGOs, CSOs and Youth Organizations, the Government aims to reduce by 2015 the adolescent fertility rate from 122 per 1000 15-19 year old girls (MICS 2010) to 110, and reduce the proportion of girls aged 15-19 that have begun childbearing from 34% (SL DHS 2008) to 30%.

Girl Child Network is a non-governmental organization playing a pivotal role in keeping girls in schools and discouraging them to engage in early sex since 2011. The organization's programmes and activities have transformed the lives of over 3000 girls across the country. Speaking to the girls at Kissy Town Hall, Madam Anita Koroma- the Country Director for Girl Child Network told the girls that their primary motive is to stay in school and refrain from early sex. "My organization will help any amongst you who wants to learn and complete college", she asserted.

Anita added that one of the beneficiaries in Bo district would pursue a university degree in Political Science with support from her Network. She disclosed that her network has secured office space in Waterloo where Girl Child Network would serve as watch-dog in protecting the girls in that part of the country. She requested the local authorities for parcel of land where her organization would be able to construct resource centre for the girls.

It could be recalled that the Government of Sierra Leone aims to reduce teenage pregnancy through two sets of interventions:

Firstly, at community level where partners work to improve unhindered access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights information (SRHR) and services for young people and to promote young women's empowerment.

Secondly, at national level where the Government and its partners review existing policies to promote adolescent and young people's access to SRHR nationwide.

It will be noted that Sierra Leone's Government under President Ernest Bai Koroma has put in place specific outputs which include the following:

1- Improved policy and legal environment to protect SRHR

2- Improved access for quality SRH, protection and education services

3- Comprehensive age appropriate information and education for adolescents and young people

4- Community, adolescent and young people empowered to prevent and respond to teenage pregnancy

5- Coordination, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms in place and allowing proper management of the strategy.

Globally, it is estimated that 14 million adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19 years give birth; one third of young women in developing countries give birth before the age 20 (UNFPA, 2012) estimation. Regionally, the adolescent child bearing is most prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, more than 50 per cent of adolescent girls give birth at age 20 (WHO 2010) statistics.

In Sierra Leone, therefore, early child bearing and teenage pregnancy is one of the most pervasive problems affecting the health, social, economic and political progress and empowerment of women and girls.

Dr. Mary Okumu Country Representative UN WOMEN in Sierra Leone in a passionate advice to the girls disclosed that she is in Sierra Leone because she has education in her pocket. She encouraged stakeholders present to support girls' education with every seriousness it deserves because education would serve as the light to their world.

In specifically making reference to the girls present, Dr. Okumu continued to say the girls were lucky to have people talk to them about the relevance of education. "I did not have such opportunity when I was young" she narrated.

When talking about Ebola virus, the UN WOMEN Boss stated that Ebola has been a terrible disease affecting Africa's continent and serving as a public health threat globally.

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment. For this reason, Dr. Okumu assured Girl Child Network that she would give support to the Network for continuation of their work in protecting girls to become better and productive women in future.

Nahad Ahmed Program Specialist UN-Women in Sierra Leone supported her boss in complementing the work of Girl Child Network and also advised the girls on the relevance of education.

Chief Ya-Almamy Sheriff of Kissy Town pledged her support to the Network. She re-affirmed that young girls are vulnerable in that part of the country. She disclosed that Kissy Town was a place where the former displaced camp was situated and most families living there are very poor, hence girls are risked to early sex for survival.

The Deputy Head-Man of the Kissy Town Osman Kargbo expressed delight to the Country Director of Girl Child Network for establishing their office at Kissy Town. He pledged his support to the project.

The program was climax with hand books and child focused magazines given to the girls.

• Sierra Leone