Kenya Host International Conference On Population & Development
A three (3) day International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD25) successfully ended at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. The Summit was held from Tuesday 12th to Thursday 14th November 2019, co-convened under the auspices of the Government of the Republic of Kenya, the Kingdom of Denmark, and the United Nations Development Fund (UNFPA).
‘Great challenges’ the African Continent faces
A three (3) day International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD25) successfully ended at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. The Summit was held from Tuesday 12th to Thursday 14th November 2019, co-convened under the auspices of the Government of the Republic of Kenya, the Kingdom of Denmark, and the United Nations Development Fund (UNFPA).
In this year's Conference, Sierra Leone shown dedication as the country's joined several others in marking the 25th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) which took place in Cairo 1994, where 179 governments adopted a landmark Program of Action which set out to empower women and girls and for the benefit of their families, communities, and nations.
Key amongst the Sierra Leone delegation to the summit is the Minister of Youth Affairs, Mohamed Orman Bangura; Sierra Leone High Commissioner to Nairobi, H.E. Joseph Francis; Minister Plenipotentiary at the Sierra Leone High Commission in Nairobi, Abdul Karim Kargbo; Director of Gender, Ministry of Social Welfare Gender and Children’s Affairs, Charles Vandi; UN Women Representative, Dr Mary Okumu; UNFPA Representative in Sierra Leone, Dr Kim Dickson; Honorable Member of Parliament, Rosemarie Bangura, Vicky the Poet and others.
Addressing the gathering, Sierra Leone's Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Dr. Francis Kai-Kai said: Our Government will continue to march in solidarity with all women and girls as we strive to ensure no segment of our population is left behind. The Government is committed to allocating at least 1% of the health budget for family planning by 2022, reduce the unmet need for family planning from 24.8% in 2019 by 20% in 2025; train and employ 1000 midwives, 180 nurse anesthetists, 72 surgical assistants by 2025; reduce maternal mortality from 1,165 per 100,000 live births by 50% in 2028; enact the prohibition of the Child Marriage Bill, which criminalizes child marriage by the end of 2020.
The Minister noted the Government of Sierra Leone made several national commitments that are consistent with the Cairo Declaration as reflected in the Sierra Leone Medium-Term National Development Plan (2019-2023), the National Population Policy, and the Family Planning 2020 Commitments.
He highlighted the importance of the summit, and the great challenges the African continent faces; maternal deaths, family planning, rape, violence against women and girls, women empowerment, sexual and reproductive health problems among others.
Dr. Kai-Kai noted Sierra Leone’s commitment to addressing these problems by referring to President Julius Maada Bio’s declaration of rape as a heinous criminal offense based on which the Parliament of Sierra Leone moved to amend the Sexual Offenses Act 2019. He also referred to the First Lady’s national campaign dubbed “Hands off our Girls” to prevent the early marriage of under-aged girls and gender-based violence.
Kenya To Host International Conference On Population And Development
Plans are underway to host the 25th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development in Nairobi, Kenya on the 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.
Renewed commitment to improving the lives of all Sierra Leoneans
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.