Kenya To Host International Conference On Population And Development

Renewed commitment to improving the lives of all Sierra Leoneans

By Sylvester Samba

Plans are underway to host the 25th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development in Nairobi, Kenya on 12-14 November 2019. The Nairobi Summit On ICPD25 - Accelerating The Promise, when governments and stakeholders will gather in Kenya. The Summit will convened by the Government of Kenya, the Government of Denmark, and the UNFPA.

2019 marks the 25th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development, the 1994 meeting in Cairo where 179 governments adopted a revolutionary Programme of Action and called for women's reproductive health and rights to take center stage in national and global development efforts. ICPD marked a revolution in thinking about sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Sierra Leone's new Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Dr. Francis Kai-Kai and HE. President Julius Maada Bio

As Sierra Leone joined the World in celebrating World Population Day, this year, His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio's government has renewed its commitment to improving the lives of all Sierra Leoneans by leaving no one behind through its numerous social security and human development programs. According to the government, is done in partnership with community stakeholders, development partners, and civil society organizations.

At a Government Press Conference at Youyi Building Freetown, speaking to journalists, the Deputy Minister, Planning and Economic Development Dr. Robert Tamba Michael Chakanda said government is increasing the population access to quality health services in the equitable distribution for mothers, children, and the elderly. Dr. Chakanda, said they remain committed in their focus on health governance, health financing, human resource, free health care, disease prevention and control, and service delivery. The Deputy Minister highlighted ICPD’s achievements in Sierra Leone - adding that the country made remarkable gains in the last decades.

The maternal mortality ratio down 2,630 in 1990 to 1,360 in 2015. The total fertility rate decreased from 5.1 in 2008 to 4.9 in 2013. Adolescent fertility rate decreased 146/1000 women aged 15-19 to 125/1000 in 2013. Adolescent childbearing decreased by 34% in women aged 15-19 in 2008 to 28% in 2013. The modern contraceptive prevalence rate went up from 7% in 2008 to 16% in 2013, and unmet need for family planning dropped 28% in 2003 to 25% in 2013. As real reproductive choices have become a reality for more women, they are making the individual choice to have smaller families.

Despite the remarkable progress, millions of women and girls in Sierra Leone still cannot exercise their sexual and reproductive health and rights. Every year, thousands of women die from pregnancy complications and childbirth. More women suffer injuries and disability including obstetric fistula incurred during birth.

Deputy Minister, Planning and Economic Development, Dr. Robert T.M. Chakanda (left), Deputy Minister, Information and Communication, Mamadi Gobeh Kamara (center) and Deputy Minister, Works and Public Assets, Hon. Philip Tetema Tondeneh (right)

The objectives of "The Nairobi Submit" are to:

• Obtain strong political commitment for the validity of the Cairo ICPD agenda

• Create political and financial momentum to advance the ICPD agenda - especially the three zeros:

Ending the unmet need for family planning

Ending preventable maternal death

Ending gender-based violence and harmful practices against women and girls - as an indispensable part of Agenda 2030.

Provide an inclusive platform for a broad range of the Member States and other stakeholders to come together around the universally applicable principle of rights and choices for all.