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  Sierra Leone's Ministry of Health and Sanitation has issued a public notice about its COVID-19 vaccination drive. According to the notice, the first phase began on Monday, March  22, and will continue through Wednesday, March 31. Target beneficiaries are below: Health care workers (Public & Private) Every Health care worker irrespective of age. Military Officers Age 40 years and above Police Officers Age 40 years and above Fire Force Officers Age 40 years and above Prison Officers Age 40 years and above Teachers (Public & Private) Age 40 years and above Lecturers and Instructors (Public & Private) Age 40 years and above Social Workers Age 40 years and above Custom & Immigration Officers Age 40 years and above General Public Age 70 years and above The following health facilities have been designated as vaccination sites:  BOMBALI  Makeni Gov’t Hospital  Kamabai CHC KONO  Koidu Gov’t Hospital  UMC Jiama Sewafe MOYAMBA  Moyamba Gov’t Hospital  Njala U...

More than 800,000 people die each year as a result of unsafe sanitation and hygiene,  according to the World Health Organization (WHO).  That's why on World Toilet Day in 2018, Nine River (9River) Media pledged to fund the construction of toilets for hundreds of school children, who have no access to safely managed sanitation in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Few weeks ago, 9River and its charitable arm, the Hannah Deen for Social Care  organization , celebrated the completion of the first toilet block in Calabatown and Allen Town.  Work at the Vision Academy International School in Kola Tree, Calabatown, began at the end of 2019. Foday Conteh, the building contractor, worked with project manager Inyilla Borteh-Conteh,  and Mr. Lebbie, the town chairman.

Kadijatu 'KJ' Bah is a third-year student at Fourah Bay College. KJ was also the inaugural recipient of the Hannah Deen for Social Care Scholarship Award, funded by 9River Media, in January 2020. This August, KJ wrote about teenage pregnancy during the COVID-19 lockdown period,  peer pressure, and poverty.  In her second interview, KJ continues her conversations with young people in her coastal community in western Freetown, Sierra Leone. Listen to what the Save the Children Sierra Leone volunteer says about the negative impact of the pandemic on children and families.   Other articles by Kadijatu 'KJ' Bah Teenage Pregnancy in Sierra Leone

Monrovia--With over 600 reported cases in the last 7 months, Liberians are fired up for change. Recent r allies to protest gender-based violence, rape, and sexual assault, indicate the level of dissatisfaction with the lack of prosecution of perpetrators.  It is not uncommon to find perpetrators receiving no jail term even with evidence and a history of sexual assault.  While there have been improvements in addressing some of these issues, Liberia still has a long way to go, especially now that there is sufficient data to prove that sexual violence is still rampant and new strategies are needed to deal with it. Oftentimes, rape cases are withdrawn due to threats to the victims or resolution by parents and the perpetrator, without the victim’s knowledge.  From healthcare service providers to police officers, there are still gaps to fill to ensure that sexual assault survivors not only get the right medical care but also access justice. 

Mohammed Cheto Jalloh (second from right in the front row)  is a writer and poet. He is also an activist, and for someone so young, he is shouldering huge responsibilities.  M.C. Jalloh  is dedicated to stopping the rape epidemic and domestic violence in his community in Liberia.  He helps raise awareness by organizing marches, visiting universities around the country, and spreading the word.  Over the last five years, he served as co-chair of  the Montserrado County Children's Forum/Parliament. M.C. Jalloh recently graduated from the Monrovia College and Industrial Training School. Currently, he's studying public administration and sociology at the African Methodist Episcopal University in Monrovia, Liberia.

Teenage pregnancy is a major issue in Sierra Leone. According to statistics gathered by UNICEF and Sierra Leone's Demographic and Health Survey, 13 per cent of girls are married by their 15th birthday and 39 per cent of girls before their 18th birthday.  During the COVID-19 lock down period in my community, I noticed at least 10 teenagers who are pregnant. I was fortunate to chat with a few and Fomie Bangura is one of them.  “I was raped," she stated. “He promised me some money to help with my studies and raped me when I visited him to collect the money. I was asked out of the house by my parents. I had to go stay with my grandmother. I stopped attending school and started selling (fana makit).  I also spoke to Aminata Bangura (photo inset). She works for Save the Children Sierra Leone. According to her, peer pressure, other influences, and poverty are some of the reasons leading to teenage pregnancy. She also mentioned that teenage girls face lots of constraint...

Since President George Weah extended the measures put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19, new directives have been announced. The president said that the easing of public health emergency measures became necessary considering the new global reality and the advice of local health authorities. Under the updated guidelines, restaurants, stores selling dry goods, building materials, and electronic appliances, will be allowed to open provided they take in only twenty-five percent of their full occupancy at a time while observing social distancing. The president has also instructed the security forces to enforce the mandatory wearing of masks in all public spaces and ensure full compliance. The government will take the appropriate legal action in cases of violation of any of these measures. President Weah has revealed that the new measures will be assessed again in the near future in order to determine their effectiveness and the need for further easing so that possible economic...