By Sulaiman Jalloh

In recent times, there has been a public debate regarding a bill titled “Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Bill” that was introduced in parliament. In the said bill, the government proposed that a woman can do a safe termination of pregnancy without the consultation of her husband and if a medical doctor denied to perform a termination of pregnancy as requested by a pregnant woman would face consequences.

This proposed section in the bill was opposed by many including religious leaders, civil society organizations and the wider populace even some Members of Parliament thus prompted the bill to committed to Legislative committee stage, a stage that parliament asked for positions papers and conduct a public hearing in scrutiny on a particular legislation before it becomes a law.

When it was first introduced in Parliament in December 2024, by the deputy Minister of Health 2, Dr. Jalikatu Mustapha dissenting opinion by religious groups on certain clauses that intended to legalize abortion. Placards were placed in both the lower and upper gallery.

Many see the bill as a reincarnation of the 2015 safe abortion bill that did not see the light of the day because, same sentiments were expressed by religious groups regarding the Abortion clause.

After Parliament committed the said bill to the Legislative stage, the office of the Clerk of Parliament announced requesting position papers from the public and religious leaders were engaged by the government. After their engagement, some of the clauses were changed, now to allow a pregnant woman to consult her husband and if so desired by religious practice.

Sierra Leone being a circular state, many believe that the government should not make Laws that undermine religious beliefs. The two leading religions (Muslim and Christian) in the country allowed termination of pregnancy if so desired by health practitioners to save the life of the pregnant woman.

It is still uncertain if the safe motherhood and reproductive health bill will come into Law this time around. Taking into consideration public debates, which triggers me to ask the ‘can the safe motherhood and reproductive health bill pass into Law’.

Although, the government has made some changes it is yet to clear as to when Parliament will debate the said bill.

Many are of the opinion that, now Donald Trump has been sown into office, this bill will not sail through for obvious reasons.