FREETOWN, Sierra Leone, 26 September 2024  –  On 26 September, World Contraception Day, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) handed over contraceptives and essential maternal health medicines valued at US$1.1 million to the Ministry of Health. These supplies will enhance access to family planning services and improve maternal and reproductive health outcomes in Sierra Leone.

At the handover ceremony, following a press conference to mark World Contraception Day, UNFPA Country Representative Nadia Rasheed commended the Government of Sierra Leone for the significant progress in expanding access to family planning services. She called this effort a crucial step in empowering women and young people, and urged continued investment in reproductive health to ensure that no woman or girl is left behind. Ms. Rasheed emphasized that access to contraception is vital for achieving gender equality and national development goals, stating, "When women and girls can plan their families, they are more likely to remain healthy, stay in school, join the workforce, and contribute to national growth."

According to the Sierra Leone Demographic Health Survey, use of modern contraceptives increased from 8% in 2008 to 24% in 2019. Despite this progress, there continues to be a high unmet need for family planning, particularly among adolescent girls. Nearly 30% of married girls aged 15-19 report wanting to delay childbearing, but lack access to contraception. The supplies provided by UNFPA will be crucial in addressing this gap and  expanding access to women and girls who are most in need. 

Professor Dr. Charles Senessie, Acting Minister of Health, reaffirmed the government's commitment to enhancing family planning services as a key aspect of Sierra Leone’s Medium-Term National Development Plan. “Access to contraception is not just a matter of health; it is fundamentally about rights and empowerment. It grants women and girls the freedom to plan their futures,” Dr. Senessie stated. He acknowledged that less than half of the total demand for contraception is currently being met, citing myths and harmful social norms as barriers, particularly in rural areas. “We are integrating culturally appropriate health education into our school curricula to empower the next generation,” he added. Dr. Senessie expressed gratitude to UNFPA for its instrumental partnership, stating that the Ministry of Health will utilize these supplies to enhance family planning services nationwide.

Youth advocate Rosaline Judy, representing Sierra Leone's younger generation, delivered a powerful message about reproductive rights. “Access to contraception is more than a choice—it’s about justice and the right to shape our own futures,” Judy said, emphasizing that access to contraceptives helps young people, especially girls, continue their education without the threat of unintended pregnancies. She called for societal changes to overcome barriers surrounding contraception, asserting, “We deserve choices and a society that respects our rights.” 

UNFPA currently supplies 90% of modern contraceptives for the public sector in Sierra Leone. Between 2019 and 2023, the agency invested $13.8 million in contraceptive supplies and an additional $1.8 million for strengthening health systems. In 2023 alone, UNFPA procured $3.7 million in commodities, enabling 640,000 women to use modern contraceptives, and preventing an estimated 240,000 unintended pregnancies, 87,000 unsafe abortions, and 770 maternal deaths.

Media contact: Islander Kabia | Communications Unit | UNFPA Sierra Leone | ikabia@unfpa.org