Introduction
The National Youth and Adolescents Conference on Family Planning and Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH), held on December 14th-15th, 2023, in Freetown, Sierra Leone, marked a significant step towards empowering young people on issues critical to their well-being. Organized by Health Alert Sierra Leone, the RMNCAH+N Coalition, and the Ministry of Health with support from USAID Momentum Country Global Leadership, the conference brought together over 150 participants from across the country.
A Platform for Amplifying Youth Voices
The conference provided a vital platform for young people to discuss critical issues surrounding family planning (FP) and SRH. Key objectives included:
Facilitating Discussions: Exploring challenges in accessing FP services, associated costs, and individual rights to inform decision-making on FP usage.
Bridging the Gap: Enabling direct communication between policymakers and young people, allowing policymakers to hear firsthand about the impact of policies on SRH.
Charting the Course: Collaboratively developing a roadmap for independent monitoring of the FP2030 commitments and identifying strategies to achieve national targets.
Mobilizing Resources: Discussing domestic revenue mobilization strategies to support sustainable FP services.
Recap of Key Sessions
Opening Remarks: Mohamed Awuah Kamara, National Coordinator of the Youth and Adolescents Reproductive Health and Nutrition Network (YARHNNET), highlighted the conference’s significance as a platform for young people to discuss concerns related to FP access, costs, and rights. He emphasized the importance of youth involvement in shaping policies that reflect their needs.
Launching the Adolescent/Youth Abridged Version of FP2030 Commitments: This session focused on the national FP2030 commitments tailored to the specific needs of adolescents and youths.
Statements from Stakeholders: Dr. Francis Moses, Program Manager for Reproductive Health and Family Planning at the Ministry of Health, emphasized the timeliness of the conference in addressing critical FP and SRH issues. Cynthia Macauley, representing USAID, reaffirmed their commitment to supporting youth programs. Madam Baindu Kosia, Executive Director of Momentum Country and Global Leadership, highlighted the success of the 2022 conference in leading to the development of the “Me Bodi Na Mi Ryt App,” a resource for youth on SRH and SMART advocacy.
FP2030 Commitments Explained: Dr. Moses provided a detailed overview of the government’s FP2030 commitments, outlining a three-year roadmap with specific programs and activities to improve access to quality FP and SRH services. He emphasized the government’s commitment to accountability and encouraged youth participation in monitoring progress.
Group Discussions and Knowledge Sharing: Participants engaged in group discussions on critical issues like holding duty bearers accountable, parental roles in adolescent choices, religious and traditional leader involvement, overcoming access challenges, and disseminating FP2030 commitments.
Breakout sessions delved deeper into topics like “Mi Bodi Na Mi Ryt App,” sexual transmitted infections (STIs), comprehensive sexuality education (CSE), SMART advocacy, and debunking myths around contraceptives. Participants actively sought knowledge on these crucial topics and requested further training opportunities.
Hackathon Challenge: A highlight of the conference, the Hackathon challenged participants to develop innovative ideas on promoting FP and SRH in their communities. The winning team from Bombali district presented their action plan, receiving recognition for their efforts.
Looking Forward
The National Youth and Adolescents Conference on Family Planning & Sexual Reproductive Health served as a catalyst for progress. By empowering young people with knowledge, fostering dialogue, and encouraging innovation, the conference paves the way for a brighter future where adolescents and youth in Sierra Leone have access to the information and resources they need to make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health.
