-Aims at heightening maternal health, SDHR
By Jerromie S. Walters
On Thursday, April 18, 2024, Liberia’s First Lady, Madam Kartumu Boakai, held Liberia’s First Consultative Forum of the Liberian Women Coalition, for the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), an endeavor that birthed the official launch of the Liberia Women Coalition for the ICPD.
The occasion, held at the Presidential Tea House at the Executive Mansion up Capitol Hill, seek to introduce selected prominent Liberian women to the background and purpose of the Liberia Women Coalition of the ICPD, to familiarize participants with the ICPD commitments regarding maternal health and SRHR and to solicit feedback on the idea of the Liberia Women Coalition and identify initial areas for joint advocacy.
The International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) is a conference organized by the United Nations that took place in Cairo, Egypt in 1994. It aimed to address issues related to population growth, development, and reproductive health. The conference resulted in the adoption of a Program of Action, which focused on gender equality, reproductive rights, and sustainable development.
In a remark, First Lady Kartumu Boakai highlighted the persistent challenges that continue to endanger mothers and newborns. She lamented the staggering number of maternal deaths in the country, with 746 reported over the past three years, translating to 20 mothers lost every month and a life lost every other day.
“Despite our successes, the specter of maternal mortality hangs over us. Too many of our sisters, our daughters, and our friends continue to be snatched away by preventable childbirth-related complications. The grim arithmetic of 746 maternal deaths over the past three years haunts me—20 mothers lost each month, a precious life extinguished every other day. This, my friends, is not a statistic; it is a clarion call to arms,” she said.
Madam Boakai called on the collective voices and unwavering support of the community to address the pressing issue of maternal mortality. She stressed that the loss of mothers not only impacts individual families but also weakens the societal fabric as a whole. Urging action and unity, she called upon attendees not as strangers but as allies in the fight for maternal and newborn health in Liberia.
She stressed, “It is a tragedy of unspeakable magnitude that mothers, the bedrock of our families and communities, are so vulnerable. Their untimely deaths are not just a loss of life but a crippling blow to the fabric of our society. And so, we must act, and act with the urgency that this crisis demands.”
Madam Boakai admonished her audience, “Today, I call on all of you not as strangers, but as comrades in arms, each with a unique perspective and an invaluable contribution to make. This meeting is about connection, about feedback, and about crystallizing our priorities for advocacy. It is about identifying the practical steps we can take to uplift the status of women and girls in Liberia.”
Addressing the significance of the 30th anniversary of the Cairo Declaration on Population and Development, Madam Boakai highlighted Liberia’s commitment to advancing the rights and well-being of women and girls. She commended the attendees for their dedication and contributions to the empowerment of women and girls, recognizing each individual’s strength, wisdom, and remarkable achievements in the field.
Reflecting on her recent appointment as a Champion for Maternal and Newborn Health in Liberia by the United Nations on World Health Day, Madam Boakai acknowledged the challenges ahead in ensuring maternal and newborn health in the country. She stressed the importance of learning and growing in the pursuit of this vital cause, acknowledging the progress made while remaining vigilant about the obstacles that still need to be overcome.
Also at the occasion, UN Resident Cordinator Madam Christine Omutoni said a this point of the world, Martenal health is has become a matter of concerns and must be confronted as pandemic or matter of emergency like COVID-19. “Unlease we deal with the family nucleus, we can not talk about a nation.”
Madam Christine Omutoni said to achieve a satisfactory result in this quest, requires visions, and clear leadership. This, she’s certain that the First Lady can make happene. She hailed the First Lady for organizing the event, and assured that the United Nations (UN) commitment to supporting the First Sdy endeavors. Madam Omutoni is hopeful that Liberia will be great again, considering the passion she has seen.
In her presentation on ICFP: Key Commitment for Maternal and Neonatal Health, including SRHR, UNFPA Representative Ms. Bidisha Pillai, flagged the essence of women being educated on how to make a choice about getting pregnant.
“For every $1.00 invested, it can generate about $6200, so it’s important to work with partners in the Ministry of Finance to make investments now. Another essential factor is educating young girls and boys early on to make the right choices. This includes educating them in schools and for those who are out of school, understanding how their bodies are changing, and how to protect themselves from violence or unplanned pregnancies,” Ms. Bidisha Pillai noted.
She stressed: “As we open up this discussion, it’s crucial to keep in mind the young Liberian girls and women affected by the decisions we make. We should think about how our decisions will benefit them. I’ll now hand over to the team to quickly run through the slides.”
Following the different remarks, the consultation entertained a roundtable discussion with all participants.
