By Jariatu S. Bangura
Members of Parliament have referred the Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Healthcare Bill to the Legislative Committee for comprehensive consultations following its first and second readings by Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Jelikatu Mustapha.
Presiding Speaker, Hon. Segepor Solomon Thomas directed the committee’s chairman, Hon. Suliaman Marray Conteh, to conduct an inclusive consultation process involving all relevant stakeholders and present a unified report to the House.
“I expect a well-rounded and united bill to be presented here; otherwise, don’t bother bringing it back,” he warned.
The Interreligious Council and other civil society organizations expressed concerns about specific provisions in the bill and requested opportunities to submit position papers outlining their perspectives.
While presenting the bill, Deputy Minister Dr. Jelikatu Mustapha highlighted the urgent need for improved reproductive healthcare services. She revealed that teenage pregnancy remains a leading cause of maternal deaths in Sierra Leone, with approximately one in three girls becoming pregnant by the age of 18.
She attributed the high rate of unintended pregnancies to limited access to sexual and reproductive health services, noting that the country records an average of 300,000 pregnancies annually.
Of those, over 30% are unintended, with more than 60% ending in unsafe abortions performed by untrained individuals often resulting in severe health complications for women and girls.
Dr. Mustapha emphasized that the proposed legislation was developed through extensive consultations with community leaders, health experts, and policymakers to ensure a well-rounded legal framework aimed at improving maternal and reproductive healthcare across the country.
The bill’s review process will continue as lawmakers seek to address the concerns raised and ensure its provisions align with national development goals and public health priorities.
