Marie Stopes Sierra Leone and Health Alert marked the official conclusion of the EU-funded Youth for Health Project with a close-out dinner held at Brookfields Hotel, New England Vile. The event brought together key partners and stakeholders who played pivotal roles in the project’s design, implementation, and oversight.
The project, which focused on advancing reproductive health and family planning services for youth and adolescents, including those with disabilities and special needs, has been hailed as a significant step toward inclusive, youth-friendly health systems. Through community outreach, capacity building, and multisectoral collaboration, the initiative empowered young people with accurate information, access to services, and platforms to raise their voices.
In attendance were representatives from:
– Marie Stopes Sierra Leone and Health Alert lead implementers
– Ministry of Health (Reproductive Health and Family Planning Directorate)
– National Secretariat on the Reduction of Teenage Pregnancy and Child Marriage (NSRTPCM)
– Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs (MoGCA)
– District Health Management Teams and District Councils from Kambia, Port Loko, and Western Rural
– Youth representatives and adolescent champions
Looking Ahead: Local Ownership & Sustainability
The Executive Directors of both implementing organizations emphasized the project’s achievements and the urgent need to sustain the gains beyond donor funding. Stakeholders were urged to take ownership of the outcomes and prioritize continued access to inclusive reproductive health services for adolescents and marginalized youth.
Representatives from the Ministry of Health, MoGCA, and NSRTPCM, as well as youth advocates, expressed deep appreciation to the European Union for its support and to Marie Stopes and Health Alert for their dedicated implementation. They reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining project results through policy alignment, funding continuity, and youth engagement.
This close-out event marks not an end but a transition point from donor-driven programming to locally led sustainability efforts. It stands as a testament to what is possible when communities, institutions, and young people come together to champion equitable reproductive health for all.