In a campaign organized by Amnesty International in a bid to curb the increased rate in maternal mortality, it is
stated that one out of eight Sierra Leonean dies during and after child bearing compared to one in four thousand five hundred
in developed countries.
It is also stated that the rampage in maternal death is as a result of inadequate medical care to pregnant women and
lactating mothers. The campaign kicked off at the Assembly Ground of the Bishop Johnson Memorial School in Freetown, with
local artists and one of the most admirable characters in the Nigerian Movie Industries, Omotola, in attendance.
Addressing the gathering, the Secretary-General Amnesty International Irene Khan mentioned that there is no impossibility in
reducing maternal mortality devoid of the convalescence of the 11 years brutal conflict. She added that even though it will
take time to revamp our health care system, there is still the need to provide sufficient and more reliable medical care for
pregnant women. As a result of poverty, she said pregnant women are unable to access lifesaving treatment, adding that the
situation normally results to pregnant women going to quack medical practitioners for deliveries. This, she said, has over
the years been catastrophic since it results to permanent bleeding and death.
The Secretary-General said that grim statistics revealed that maternal deaths are a human rights emergency in the country.
Women and girls are dying in their thousands because they are routinely denied their rights to life and health, in spite of
promises from government to provide free healthcare to all pregnant women. She disclosed that at the UN General Assembly on
the 23rd September, one of the top most agenda will be on health care in the developing world. This will be actualized by an
announcement of financial packages devoted to improving the pathetic nature of infant and maternal health. Sierra Leone, she
said will be a beneficiary of the pending financial aid. She said that money is not the ultimate solution to enhance the
reduction of maternal mortality. In Sierra Leone, she lamented, there is the prevalence of sexual violence, forced marriage
and so many mitigating factors regarding the status of women.
She further noted that it is the belief of Amnesty International that poverty is a human rights issue which requires sudden
attention. In this regard, her organization has launched a campaign called demand dignity, which is aimed at putting human
rights violations and acrid poverty to an end.
Representing the Sierra Leone artists, was the president of All Stars Association Abu Bakarr Elba aka Base Aphonix who said
the role of artists in the campaign is to give more voice to end maternal mortality. He added that Sierra Leone artists have
always contributed to nation building, and it is mandatory upon them to collaborate with concerned organizations to alleviate
the suffering of pregnant women.
The Nigerian Movie maestro, Omotola Jelade Ekainde stated that they will apply relentless effort in the campaign to end
maternal mortality in the country. She mentioned that women are always at the risk of death during child bearing simply
because there are no adequate dispensations of required drugs during labour. “Maternal death is a serious concern and every
necessary effort should be initiated to stop it” she lamented.
By Poindexter Sama
stated that one out of eight Sierra Leonean dies during and after child bearing compared to one in four thousand five hundred
in developed countries.
It is also stated that the rampage in maternal death is as a result of inadequate medical care to pregnant women and
lactating mothers. The campaign kicked off at the Assembly Ground of the Bishop Johnson Memorial School in Freetown, with
local artists and one of the most admirable characters in the Nigerian Movie Industries, Omotola, in attendance.
Addressing the gathering, the Secretary-General Amnesty International Irene Khan mentioned that there is no impossibility in
reducing maternal mortality devoid of the convalescence of the 11 years brutal conflict. She added that even though it will
take time to revamp our health care system, there is still the need to provide sufficient and more reliable medical care for
pregnant women. As a result of poverty, she said pregnant women are unable to access lifesaving treatment, adding that the
situation normally results to pregnant women going to quack medical practitioners for deliveries. This, she said, has over
the years been catastrophic since it results to permanent bleeding and death.
The Secretary-General said that grim statistics revealed that maternal deaths are a human rights emergency in the country.
Women and girls are dying in their thousands because they are routinely denied their rights to life and health, in spite of
promises from government to provide free healthcare to all pregnant women. She disclosed that at the UN General Assembly on
the 23rd September, one of the top most agenda will be on health care in the developing world. This will be actualized by an
announcement of financial packages devoted to improving the pathetic nature of infant and maternal health. Sierra Leone, she
said will be a beneficiary of the pending financial aid. She said that money is not the ultimate solution to enhance the
reduction of maternal mortality. In Sierra Leone, she lamented, there is the prevalence of sexual violence, forced marriage
and so many mitigating factors regarding the status of women.
She further noted that it is the belief of Amnesty International that poverty is a human rights issue which requires sudden
attention. In this regard, her organization has launched a campaign called demand dignity, which is aimed at putting human
rights violations and acrid poverty to an end.
Representing the Sierra Leone artists, was the president of All Stars Association Abu Bakarr Elba aka Base Aphonix who said
the role of artists in the campaign is to give more voice to end maternal mortality. He added that Sierra Leone artists have
always contributed to nation building, and it is mandatory upon them to collaborate with concerned organizations to alleviate
the suffering of pregnant women.
The Nigerian Movie maestro, Omotola Jelade Ekainde stated that they will apply relentless effort in the campaign to end
maternal mortality in the country. She mentioned that women are always at the risk of death during child bearing simply
because there are no adequate dispensations of required drugs during labour. “Maternal death is a serious concern and every
necessary effort should be initiated to stop it” she lamented.
By Poindexter Sama