By Amin Kef Sesay
Marie Stopes Sierra Leone (MSSL) in a Press Release dated 30th June 2020 disclosed that it has launched what it calls the “Rain Season Koba-Klos (FP) Promotion.”
It stated further that the Government of Sierra Leone’s family planning commitment specifically aims at reaching 755,939 additional women with Family Planning services and increasing modern contraceptive prevalent rate from its current level of 16.6% to 33.7% by 2022, reducing current stock-out rates of 85%; targeting adolescents and young people who constitute 33% of the population of Sierra Leone with services as well as decreasing unmet family planning needs to 10 percent by 2020; and decreasing teenage pregnancy rates to 15 percent in 2020.
“To address the serious problem of maternal mortality and teenage pregnancy among women and girls, my administration will launch a National Programme on Sexual and Reproductive Health for all women and girls to address this menace” President Bio, stated in December 2019 as quoted by Marie Stopes-Sierra Leone.
The institution added that in continued partnership with the Government’s health priorities, they are pleased to announce the official launch of the “Rain Season Koba-Klos Promotion” at their Headquarters on 10A&B Ahmed Drive, Off Sir Samuel Lewis Road in Freetown on Thursday 02nd July 2020 at 10:00am prompt.
According to Marie Stopes-Sierra Leone, the promotion aims at reaching women and girls with quality, personalized and confidential services of choice free of user fees between Thursday 02nd July to Monday 03rd August, 2020.
The promotion, they stated, which is funded and supported by DFID, LAD and Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS), services will be available for free at all their Outreach Sites in all Districts, 117 Community Health Centres and all 9 MSSL ran Reproductive Health Clinics across the country.
Marie Stopes-SL states that Family Planning is not a privilege, but a basic human right and by enabling women, particularly the most disadvantaged and hardest to reach, make informed choices about the number, timing and spacing of their children, they help them exercise that right , according to Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin (former Executive Director, UNFPA).
They stated that services that are available free during this year’s “Rain Season Koba-Klos Promotion” period are Long Acting & Reversible Contraceptives (LARCs) specifically IUD (Coil) and Implant (Captain Band) including Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) Counselling. Management also stated that on Outreach only, they would also provide free screening and STI treatment.
“Rain Season Koba-Klos Promotion” is an exceptional unique opportunity for women, girls and couples to have the power to choose a contraceptive method of choice,” Dr. Ufuoma Omo-Obi; Country Director, Marie Stopes -Sierra Leone pointed out and continued by pointing out that they will continue to thank all telecommunications companies – Orange, Africell, Q-CELL & Sierratel for their support as their clients, their families and stakeholders can reach them through the 3535 toll-free line from all the networks to learn more about their services or book their preferred choice of services at a Clinic.
The Release ended by stating that Appointments can also be made at http://mariestopes.org.sl/book-an-appoinment.
