By Lamina Kamara
After wide ranging consultations on aspects of the Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Bill commonly known as Safe Motherhood Bill, the Bill will now be tabled in Parliament for proper scrutiny and approval by the Legislative Arm of Government.
The Deputy Minister of Health II Dr. Jalikatu Mustapha who is championing the bill, and the Minister of Information and Civic Education Mr. Chernor Bah have over the last 60 days consulted with a wide range of stakeholders and relevant parties to the Bill for a safe landing in the well.
The consultations were not limited to only members of Parliament but across the board, especially people or organisations dealing with women and girls.
At a meeting at an exclusive resort on Saturday November 30th, the Deputy Minister of Health II Dr. Jalikatu Mustapha shared a copy of the bill to all Members of Parliament present for effective deliberations on it.
She said the gathering was to bring the Members of Parliament up to speed with the draft Safe Motherhood Bill, which they intended to take to Parliament for ratification before the end of the year. She dilated on the spirit and intent of the SMB and how it has been considered thoroughly before engagement with the MPs. The Bill, she highlighted seeks to remove all barriers to illegal and unsafe motherhood for our women and girls, whilst safe guarding the rights of all women to the right to their body.
Chairman Parliamentary Committee on Legislature Honourable Sullay Abdul Marray Conteh explained that as a Legislative arm of government, their work goes in tandem with the demands of their constituents. He said the Chairperson of the Committee on Health at Parliament, Honourable Abdul Karim Kamara alias AKK was present to shed light on the merits and demerits of the proposed bill.
Opposition Whip AKK in his presentation, assured all members that the bill in its entirety had been scrutinized and that it met the demands of the 21st century. Honourable AKK said the purpose of the bill goes beyond just safe motherhood but that it seeks to save lives and allow women have access to their body. He said the different clauses of the bill had been looked into and that minus a few concerns which they were gathered to address, it was fine.
The then Deputy Minister of Justice, and now Minister and Attorney General Alpha Sesay Esq, on his part said the bill had gone through them and that the contentious clauses were not inimical to the overall intent of the bill. He said clause 7 does not necessarily negate clause 9 and that they go in tandem.
The Chairman Parliamentary Committee on Legislature Honourable Sullay Marray Conteh gave every MP and Minister of Government present, an opportunity to speak to the issue. Honourable Fatmata Bockarie spoke on a personal experience with her child who is now attending Choithram’s International School and how she went through some difficulties in having the baby even as a married woman. She cautioned that the bill should be properly looked at before it goes for discussion and that serious engagement with the people is necessary and that it should not be rushed.
Honourable Catherine Kargbo from Bombali averred that she was a direct victim of early unwanted pregnancy, highlighting the fact that the SMB was a safe guard for such unwanted issues of pregnancy and child birth. Honourable Bash from Bo was supportive but cautioned that more engagement with the public be done.
Two Honourables from Kono and Tonkolili respectively spoke extensively about the extension of facilities for safe motherhood to rural areas as often times only urban areas benefit from such facilities, when it comes to implementation. Their fears were however allayed by the Deputy Minister II who assured them that all facilities provided under the SMB will be evenly distributed. Honourable Kadi Daramy talked on the need for all to be involved and that she will be taking the message to people whose composition is mixed. She therefore called for proper message asymmetry before going out.
Responding, the Deputy Ministers of Health II and the Minister of Information and Civic Education, expounded on their personal experiences with some of the challenges faced by young mothers, stigmatized children and mothers and how the SMB will eliminate all those bottlenecks.
The Minister of Information and Civic Education Mr. Chernor Bah painstakingly explained how the bill has changed drastically from 2015 to date and that now all safe guards and protection for all women and girls have been taken into consideration.
Dr. Isata Mahoi, Minister of Gender said she is faced everyday with reports, complaints or concerns about unwanted pregnancies, abandoned children and many more and said the SMB will address all of those concerns and more.
The Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Bill is now set to be examined by our noble Parliament.