By amadui.mansaray@awokonewspaper.sl
Port Loko, SIERRA LEONE – As the curtain gradually falls on the transformative Youth for Health (Y4H) project, Marie Stopes Sierra Leone (MSSL) is making a resounding call for communities to take ownership of the progress achieved in adolescent sexual and reproductive health.
Launched in October 2022 with support from the European Union, the three-year initiative is set to conclude in June 2025. It has impacted 15 schools and 15 healthcare facilities across Port Loko, Kambia, and Western Area Urban—empowering thousands of young people with vital health education and services.
The Y4H project set out with an ambitious goal: to reduce maternal mortality and teenage pregnancy by expanding access to accurate information, safe spaces for dialogue, and essential health services for adolescents. As the program winds down, MSSL is hosting a series of reflective engagements with school mentors and youth champions, aiming to ignite a sense of long-term community stewardship.
Sandy Massaquoi, Advocacy and External Relations Officer at MSSL, highlighted the progress made and challenges overcome.
“At the start, community perceptions of family planning posed a serious barrier. But over time, we’ve seen remarkable change. Today, more young girls are staying in school rather than dropping out due to unplanned pregnancies,” he said.
Massaquoi emphasized the urgency of continued collaboration with local stakeholders to preserve the strides made.
“We don’t want these gains to fade after the project ends. Community ownership is key to sustainability.”
MSSL, a longstanding advocate for reproductive health since 1986, continues to support national efforts to combat maternal mortality and promote sexual and reproductive health rights across Sierra Leone.
In Port Loko, student advocate Ashim S. Kamara of Mumomakarr Junior Secondary School in Mahera, Lungi, encouraged his peers to focus on their education.
“Abstaining from sex and concentrating on school is the best path forward,” he advised, a sentiment echoed by fellow student Kadiatu Kamara from Konta Line.
In Kambia, Bom-Posseh O. Kamara of Children’s Welfare Islamic Secondary School praised the project’s impact.
“We’ve seen fewer teenage pregnancies in our school. I really hope MSSL and their partners can continue this important work.”
School mentor Mohamed Dumbuya echoed her appeal, commending the initiative for fostering a noticeable shift in youth attitudes and behaviors.
With June 2025 fast approaching, MSSL’s final message is clear: the future of adolescent health lies in the hands of the communities themselves. By carrying forward the lessons learned, local leaders, schools, and families can keep the flame of youth empowerment burning—long after the project ends. AIM/25/4/2025
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