274.
The GoSL has taken decisive steps at the highest level to bring a halt to early
pregnancies. It has developed a multi-sectoral National Strategy for the Reduction of
Teenage Pregnancy (2013-2015). It is a national coordinated strategy addressing social,
economic, cultural and other driving factors through multi-sectoral interventions.
It is implemented under the leadership of the President under the supervision of a
Multisectoral Coordination Committee, the secretariat for which sits in the MoHS. At a
sectoral level, each department will have a focal person responsible for implementation
and reporting on sectoral responsibilities and outcomes. The strategy focuses on the
review and strengthening of all sectoral policies and laws to better protect adolescents
and active community level action to reduce early pregnancies through a combination of
improved access to SRHR services, information, education and empowerment for girls.
Its goal is, by 2015, to reduce the adolescent fertility rate from 122/1,000 to 110/1,000
and reduce the number of girls giving birth before the age of 19 years from 34 to 30.
Nutritional support
275.
The GoSL has long battled the scourge of malnutrition among its children which is
estimated to contribute to 37 percent of all under-five mortality. It further contributes
to poor physical and cognitive development of children and consequently impacts on
attainment of national developmental goals. The GoSL has thus not only committed
to realization of MDG goal 1: To eradicate extreme poverty and hunger and halve,
by 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from hunger. It has also committed, as
an integral component of its national poverty reduction strategy to “accelerate the
eradication of hunger and malnutrition, with a strengthened focus on women and
children from conception to two years of age, to prevent the irreversible effects of
stunting” (Government of Sierra Leone: Agenda for Prosperity, 2013).
276.
The National Nutrition Policy and costed Implementation Plan 2013-2017 developed
by the MoHS lays out the primary actions required to reduce under-nutrition with
an emphasis on the reduction of chronic malnutrition (stunting). In October 2012,
the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) adopted and launched the Scaling up
Nutrition (SUN) initiative, with the aim of scaling up cost-effective, evidence based
interventions that improve nutrition during the first 1,000 days between pregnancy
and the child's second birthday.
277.
The GoSL has developed and implemented, with the support of development partners,
a comprehensive programme for the prevention and treatment of malnutrition.
The programme comprises treatment of severe acute malnutrition at facility- and
community-levels; prevention package comprised of growth monitoring, counselling
for feeding and adoption of appropriate feeding behaviors: the promotion of exclusive
breastfeeding and appropriate complementary feeding, Vitamin A supplementation,
deworming and the promotion of household food production and income generation
activities.
278.
The MoHS, with the support of its development partners, is implementing a communitybased preventive nutrition package in 13 districts in Sierra Leone. Community support
groups/mother support groups (MSGs) have been formed with at least 2 members
trained in Infant and Young Child Feeding counseling and active group facilitation skills.
These groups conduct Behavioral Change Communication (BCC) on breastfeeding and
complementary feeding, provide counseling support to breastfeeding mothers, conduct
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Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone Initial Report on the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child 2002-2014