Health Ministry & Information Ministry Engage Students
By Ornette Turay
In an effort to popularize and to dispel the misinformation on the revised Safe motherhood Bill, the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Civic Education have engaged students from various schools and colleges in an interactive session on the Safe Motherhood Bill.
Taking the podium, Deputy Minister of Health II, Dr. Jalikatu Mustapha told the audience that the Safe Motherhood Bill is aimed at educating girls and women to prevent unwanted pregnancy. She maintained that the Bill also makes provision for girls and women who are victims of rape, adding that if they do not want to keep the pregnancy government would provide them with safe abortion through the victims consent.
Minister Mustapha maintained that the Bill hinges on all health issues about women. She further stressed that the Bill is not aimed at encouraging abortion but to priorities women’s health across the country.
Speaking on the Bill, the Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah popularly known as Cee Bah said the Safe Motherhood Bill was designed by the government to put a stop to unsafe and illegal abortion by quack medical practitioners. Cee Bah further stated that if a women does not want a pregnancy the government would help her to remove safely rather than going to quack doctors.
He pointed out that the benefits in the Bill it would prevent people from using dangerous methods to remove their pregnancy. He also maintained that the Bill is to prevent teenage pregnancy and promote the use of contraceptives. Minister Bah reiterated that the Bill would promote women’s health. ‘’If a minor gets pregnant, the government will get her parents’ consent before the abortion is carried out provided they agree,’’ said Cee Bah.
Minister Bah further stated that it also makes provision for couples. ‘’When religious leaders were consulted on the Bill. They made it clear that if it is rape, incest or the mother’s life is at risk. They agreed that abortion is permissible,’’ Cee Bah disclosed.
Another key highlight of the session was a testimony narrated by Esther Kanu were she told the audience that she got pregnant when she was a teenager and he only option was to terminate the pregnancy by drinking so many concoction but the pregnancy was still there . As fate would have it, she allowed the pregnancy to grow until she delivered. She said the Bill does not encourage young girls to get pregnant rapidly. Noting that it gives choice to girls and women.
A panel discussion also formed part of gathering with the theme: ‘’Why young people should support the Bill’’
The Climax of the occasion was an interactive questions and answers from some students. The event brought together students from the Annie Walsh Memorial, Methodist Girls High School, Students from Fourah Bay College, IPAM, COMAHS, Milton Margai Technical University, just to name a few.
From the active participation of the students’ they have learnt a lot and benefits of the Safe Motherhood Bill.
