Drug abuse in Sierra Leone is robbing children of their right to a childhood and adults of their right to live a productive life. Starting with the National Drugs Enforcement Act 2008, the government of Sierra Leone not only recognised this issue but is now trying their best to sensitise the public on the adverse effects of drug abuse.

This situation is currently a major hindrance to the development of youth as they are the most vulnerable to drugs and the highest affected group. Jonathan Spencer, director of the Just Say No To Drugs campaign says there are no statistics on drug abuse available in the country but assures that the numbers are sure to be quite alarming

The causes of drug abuse are many. One is the lack of employment. Some also take drugs to ease their mind and kill out the worries. Others feel neglected by family and decide to belong to the ghetto. Some take drugs because of the experience and some girls also follow their loved one. Cultism is another major cause of drugs and they take it on oath.

According to Mr Kandeh Bangura, director of National Drugs Enforcement Agency government is involving all members of society in the fight against drugs by expanding its activities to all provinces instead of just Freetown. The involvement of religious leaders and village elders into this fight is also one measure to sensitise the public. Some civil society organisations like the NDEA have embarked on a massive awareness and sensitisation campaign to help in their fights and also formed a football team called Anti Drugs Striker.

Drug Abuse poses a security threat in society as there is increase in corruption and violence including prostitution and gangs. It also makes way for low output in adults as they are not able to work because of sleep and drowsiness. Drug abuses also make youth more ineffective and talk unnecessarily. It can also cause impotency in men and miscarriage or still birth among pregnant women. Changes in behaviour and physical appearance are also effects of drug abuse. Forced drug abuse was also used to encourage children to fight in the civil war.

Since the landing of a plane full of cocaine in 2008 the government has decided to strengthen its laws on drug abuse and trafficking. But according to Pastor Gobeh, head counselor at the City of Rest Church, “it is not what is on paper but how we implement them.”

High penalty on drug abuse and drug peddlers should be enforced. The rehabilitation of addicts is critical. Sensitisation and preventive education and awareness-raising campaigns are already underway.

Along with this, the criminal justice system also needs to be revisited so that youths are sent to rehabilitation centres instead of prison. The government should also provide adequate counseling services. The hurdles to cross are many, but awareness is the first step.

For more information contact the Drug Awareness Campaign on 076 630 539

One in eight pregnant women in Sierra Leone has a chance of dying at childbirth. Due to the lack of adequate medical services, they are being denied their basic human right to maternal health. According to UNICEF, presently Sierra Leone is ranked the worst country in the world in this respect.

Maternal mortality is a very complex and critical problem. David Shermutt of Amnesty International feels that it amounts to discrimination against women. “Governments should put more emphasis on this because it is only women who are dying,” he said.

Among the challenges faced by the gobernment are hospital conditions i.e. conditions of service for meducal and health workers, hospital policy and equaipments. There is no proper record system to record deaths cases as medical doctors are unable to account for deaths. There is the fear of cost factor as some women don’t go to the hospital because of the registration fee they have to pay.

There is also poor access to health information. There are primitive conceptions held by people living in rural and provincial areas; some women prefer traditional midwives who are not trained and use unsterilised equipment.

When President Ernest Bai Koroma came to power, he made combating the high rate of maternal mortality a priority of his government and launched the Reproductive Child Health Programme in February 2009. To combat and reduce the high rate of maternal mortality, the government and other major stakeholders including UNICEF, UNFPA and WHO have put in place various strategies.

According to Jonathan Abbas Kamaram the Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, the government has shown its strong commitment to take up this situation. They are trying to introduce a policy to cover free cost of reproductive health. “We are trying to make free care accessible to all pregnant women in the government hospitals,” he said.

The government is now on a caravan campaign to sensitise the mass public on the situation and how best we could prevent it. They are trying to encourage women to avoid local herbalists and go to the hospitals. At the same time they are also looking into condition of service for medical and health officers to avoid brain drain of experts. Recently the ministry launched the ‘mami en pikin well bodi week’ which is one of their initiatives to combat maternal mortality.

However, more needs to be done in terms of practicalisation. According to Dr, Rashidatu Kamara of Connaught Hospital, “the government should also try to combat the high rate of teenage pregnancy.” Solomon Sobangdi, coordinator at Amnesty International feels that instead of talking endlessly about it, the government should enforce practical measures. There needs to be more education, stronger monitoring and increasing women’s awareness of their right to emergency obstetric care.

For more information contact Jonathan Abbas Kamara, Ministry of Health and Sanitation at 076678021

Photo Credit: http://sierraleone1968-70.blogspot.com/2008/09/warren-van-hoos-was-peace-corps.html