IWYE ED Wants Government Prioritize Family Planning As a Matter of Urgency!

By: Geeplay Ezekiel Geeplay |Montserrado County Correspondent

Montserrado County, Monrovia-Wednesday, March 12, 2025 – The Executive Director of the Initiative for Women and Youth Empowerment (IWYE), Madam Musu Weenor Davis is calling on the Government of Liberia and the Liberia National Legislature to prioritize family planning as a matter of urgency.

She said it is essential to significantly bolster the budget allocation for family planning within the Ministry of Health budget, as family planning is key to preventing unwanted pregnancies.

Given the disturbing rise in the rate of teenage pregnancy in rural and semi-rural communities across Liberia, Madam Davis said there is a need for immediate and decisive action.

 She stated that investing in family planning is not just a necessity; it is a fundamental obligation to safeguard the health and future of the youth of Liberia.

Executive Director Davis emphasized that Liberia, like many other sub-Saharan countries, confronts serious challenges regarding Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR).

She stated that the youthful population of Liberia, mainly young women and girls between the ages of 13 to 18, continue to become victims of teenage pregnancy as many of them, particularly those in the rural part of the country, have dropped out of school. Something she said is as a result of the lack of proper education on the importance of the usage of contraceptives and government failure to prioritize family planning.

Mrs. Davis further stated that there is poor family planning service delivery across Liberia, thus, it is even worst in rural communities as nurses lack adequate medical supplies and national government attention, causing the unavailability of contraceptive services across the country.

Mrs. Davis further stated that currently Liberia is grappling with alarmingly high maternal mortality rates and a significant lack of access to contraceptive and family planning services across the fifteen political subdivisions of the country.

“If you take time to travel to rural areas within this country, sadly, you will come back and shed tears as many potential young women and girls have fallen victim to unwanted pregnancies.

There are almost no available family planning services in almost all of our health centers in the rural parts of this country. Nurses lack motivation. In the past, USD20, 000.00 was allocated to provide adequate family planning services across fifteen counties.

“With all of the advocacies done, nothing was added until the current government came in and added USD20, 000.00. We are grateful, though. But we think the government can do more. 40,000.00 USD isn’t enough for an entire country. Let the allotment for family planning reflects the government’s passion and commitment to the country’s youth as they strive to make informed health choices and decisions,” She added.

Madam Davis passionately stressed that safeguarding the future of Liberia’s dynamic and youthful population is of utmost importance and ought to be prioritized by the nation’s lawmakers.

The IWYE chief executive underscored the need to confront critical issues that pose a serious threat to the well-being of the youth, arguing that they deserve immediate and focused attention.

In a grave tone, she drew attention to the distressing trend of girls, aged 13 to 18 particularly in rural communities, who are forced to abandon their education due to unplanned pregnancies. This troubling reality cannot be ignored; it calls for swift and decisive action to address the myriad health-related challenges these young girls are faced with daily.

Madam Davis further urged all civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, and community-based groups to ramp up their advocacy efforts for meaningful change, adding that collective action is essential for creating a brighter future for Liberia’s youth.

The Liberia National Sexual and Reproductive Health Policy of 2010 addressed the need for roundtable efforts to improve the SRHR of its youthful population with a key focus on women, youth, and the rural and semi-rural populations.

Hence, it is established that the formulation and subsequent implementation of an SRHR policy will ensure coordinated, integrated, harmonious delivery of comprehensive SRHR services that will improve the overall health of the population of the country.

However, not much has been done by past and present administrations to address this, as there remains a significant opportunity to enhance family planning services to enable families, especially women and girls, to make informed decisions.

The Initiative for Women and Youth Empowerment (IWYE) is a registered non-governmental organization championing the call for positive change through advocacy since its establishment in 2015. IWYE, formerly “Girl For Literacy,” has helped empower hundreds of girls, women, and youth over the years.

Edited: Jesefu Morris Keita| Editor-In-Chief