August 22, 2016 By Regina PratT
The first pregnant woman to deliver safely at the Reproductive Health Centre of the Planned Parenthood Association of Sierra Leone has commended the institution and its nurses for their patience and caring attitude.
Paulina Nicolson, who delivered a bouncing baby boy some three years ago, was the first patient to receive treatment at the newly equipped service delivery centre funded by Cord Aid. She shared her experience on Thursday (August 18) during an event in the conference room of the old YWCA to mark the organization’s 57th year anniversary.
This year’s celebration was themed: “Championing Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights as a vehicle for Sustainable Development in Sierra Leone.”
“I joined the PPASL when I was two weeks pregnant. I was encouraged to continue my treatment and in August, I was privileged to visit the theatre room,” she said, and thanked the PPASL for the opportunity to share her experience on how she was treated during her pregnancy period.
PPASL’s Director of Programs, Dr. Victor Massaquoi, who has served for more than two decades as volunteer, highlighted the technical aspect of the Strategic Plan (2016 to 2019), which has four outcomes.
He explained that outcome one looks at how the government of Sierra Leone supports Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights with policy initiatives, while in outcome two; 750,000 people empowered to act freely on the SRHR, and in outcome three; 5, 600,000 quality integrated SRHS delivered.
“We initiated advocacy activities, mobilize stakeholders to develop four new SRH and RS, and we are intensifying our resource mobilization as we are experiencing donor fatigue,” he said and added that they were working with the National HIV/AIDS Secretariat, UNFPA, Cord Aid and a host of others.
Also, Service Delivery manager, Hannah Saccoh said PPASL was a non-profit, non-political volunteer based NGO, which is a member of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and that they were committed to the provision of affordable and accessible integrated Sexual Reproductive Health Services, including Family Planning in marginalized and deprived communities.
She revealed that they have successfully carried out 164 normal deliveries with no deaths, 116 caesarean sections and 4, 123 integrated maternal Health Services.
“A total of 176,474 family planning services were provided with 29,749 New Acceptors. 153,895 Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health services were also provided at the Adolescent Youth Friendly Services,” she added.
Honorary President, Jacob Tucker said: “Our organization is committed to the provisions of sexual reproductive health and rights. Our main funder is the IPPF but other NGO’s provide funds for our programs.”
He also said that members offer free services for the improvement of the Association, noting that PPASL vision was to see a Sierra Leone where all people especially the young would be free to make choices about their sexuality and wellbeing and have access to quality SRH information, education and appropriate services devoid of stigma and discrimination.
The PPASL was founded by Edith Gates, Dr. Arnold Aubee, Mojibola Adams and host of eminent Sierra Leoneans, whose services have contributed to the success of the association.