By Foday Moriba Conteh
In a bid to create an invaluable opportunity for young people from across Sierra Leone to engage with healthcare workers and address critical issues facing youth and adolescents, Health Alert Sierra Leone, in partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone and supported by Momentum Country and Global Leadership (MCGL) USAID, concluded a two-day National Youth and Adolescent Family Planning & Sexual Reproductive Health Conference on Wednesday, October 9, 2024.
Themed: “Young People Breaking Cycles and Building Futures,” the conference, held at the Bintumani Hotel, Freetown, brought together stakeholders, NGOs, social change-makers, health workers and young people from the country’s 16 districts.
Victor Lansana Koroma, Executive Director of Health Alert Sierra Leone, underscored the critical role young people play in advancing family planning and sexual reproductive health policies during the National Youth and Adolescent Family Planning & Sexual Reproductive Health Conference.
He praised the efforts of Regional Coordinators and Steering Committee members, who have been the driving force behind many youth-focused initiatives. Victor Lansana Koroma highlighted that the conference has grown from humble beginnings, initially supported by FP2020 and later FP2030, to becoming a powerful platform for youth engagement.
The Executive Director recounted how, in 2019, a $5,000 grant brought together 70 young people across the country, a move that has since gained momentum with support from USAID’s Momentum Country and Global Leadership (MCGL). The conference has now become an annual gathering, bringing key stakeholders together to foster youth participation in decision-making processes.
He also noted the formation of the Adolescent and Youth (AY) mechanism, a youth-led platform that enables young people to engage with policymakers and contribute to national discussions on family planning.
“In 2020, young people were not at the table when family planning commitments were being developed,” Victor Lansana Koroma observed, “but today they are actively involved in shaping those policies.”
The Executive Director concluded by stressing that young people are now leading key initiatives. “You are in the driver’s seat. We are behind you and we know you will not let us down,” he told participants. He expressed gratitude to partners, including USAID Momentum, UNFPA and others for their continued support of youth-led initiatives. He also thanked the organizing team and media partners for making the conference a success.
Baindu A. Kosia, Country Director for Jhpiego and Consortium Lead for the USAID Momentum Project, emphasized the central role of youth in addressing Sierra Leone’s health challenges. “This conference is by youth, for youth. You have proven time and again that when given the opportunity, young people can over perform,” Baindu A. Kosia said, reflecting on the progress made since the conference’s inception.
Baindu A. Kosia highlighted youth-led initiatives from past conferences, such as innovative solutions to combat teenage pregnancy and improve maternal health, which were showcased during hackathons where youth participants impressed judges with groundbreaking ideas. “Kenema District won the hackathon in 2022, leading to the launching of the FP Keke Connect initiative by the Chief Minister, Dr. David Sengeh,” Baindu A. Kosia noted, encouraging this year’s participants to bring forward their best ideas.
She urged participants to continue their leadership beyond the conference: “You are the future and your future starts now. Break these cycles and you’ll build a better future for yourself and your communities.”
Margaret Bolaji, Youth Regional Partnerships Officer at FP2030, echoed the importance of family planning in empowering young people to make informed decisions about their reproductive health.
She shared her personal journey from a challenging background in Northern Nigeria to becoming a successful professional, thanks to access to comprehensive sexuality education and family planning services.
Margaret Bolaji commended the Sierra Leonean Government and partners such as USAID, UNFPA and FP2030 for their commitment to advancing youth and adolescent health.
She called for continued investment in family planning initiatives, emphasizing that the unmet needs of young people remain a key challenge. “Invest now,” Bolaji said, “Invest for a better, brighter future today. Young people are leading now and we are unstoppable.”
Mohamed Awauah Kamara, Team Lead of the AY Mechanism, expressed pride in coordinating the National Adolescent and Youth Conference since 2019. He praised the significant contributions of young participants over the years and the ongoing commitment to family planning under the FP2030 framework, which aims to meet Sierra Leone’s reproductive health goals by 2030.
He also acknowledged USAID for stepping in to support the conference through the MCGL project, ensuring its continuity despite previous funding challenges.
The Team Lead called on donor partners to trust the capacity of young organizations to implement projects, pointing out that the AY Mechanism operates in all 16 districts of Sierra Leone with a robust accountability structure in place.
In his keynote address, Dr. Charles Senessie, Deputy Minister of Health I, emphasized the vital role young people play in shaping national health policies.
He praised the conference as a crucial platform for youth empowerment and policy development, noting that past conferences have provided critical recommendations that shaped national policies and programs targeting youth and adolescent health.
“These conferences have been instrumental in informing key policies, such as the National Strategy for the Reduction of Teenage Pregnancy, the Family Planning Cost Implementation Plan and the FP2030 Commitments,” Dr. Charles Senessie stated.
Reflecting on the 2022 conference, Charles Senessie highlighted how it empowered young people to ensure their voices were heard and their needs reflected in the FP2030 document. He also expressed pride in launching the FP2030 commitments during the Sexual and Reproductive Health Conference in December 2023. The Deputy Minister reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to addressing the unique needs of young people, stating, “As a Government, we are deeply committed to placing youth at the center of our development strategies.”
Dr. Charles Senessie concluded by celebrating the successful launch of the Family Planning Keke Initiative in July 2024, which emerged from the 2022 conference. Supported by USAID Momentum, this initiative is now being implemented by young people in Kenema District with assistance from the District Health Management Team.
The event, organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and local health organizations, featured breakout sessions, discussions and workshops aimed at equipping young leaders with the knowledge and skills to address reproductive health issues which included with the Hackathons competition among the 16 districts seeing Kenema District winning it again for the second time.
