The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has donated $1.1 million worth of contraceptives and essential maternal health medications to Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health. The handover took place on September 26, 2024, at the Atlantic Lumley Hotel in Freetown, coinciding with World Contraception Day.
UNFPA Country Representative, Nadia Rasheed, highlighted that this brings the total value of reproductive health supplies provided in 2024 to over $2 million, benefiting an estimated 755,000 couples in the next year. Despite improvements in contraceptive use, Sierra Leone continues to face high rates of teenage pregnancy and maternal mortality.
Rasheed emphasized the importance of addressing myths and cultural norms that hinder family planning, particularly for adolescents, and called for greater investments in family planning services. According to a joint investment case by the Ministry of Health and UNFPA, doubling current funding could prevent 3.1 million unintended pregnancies and save thousands of lives by 2030.
Deputy Health Minister Dr. Charles Senesie, reiterated the government’s commitment to reproductive health, describing access to contraceptives as a basic right. Youth advocate, Rosaline Judy, stressed the role of contraceptives in enabling young people to make informed decisions and continue their education without the burden of unintended pregnancies.
