Surviving childbirth, enduring fistula: One teenager’s story
Content Warning: This article contains descriptions of teenage pregnancy, sexual violence and traumatic childbirth complications. Some readers may find the content distressing. At the tender age of 13, Marie (not her real name) became a victim of teenage pregnancy. Her life changed forever. A childhood cut short and a future jeopardised. Marie’s pregnancy was not […]
Living with Albinism: the burden of discrimination, neglect and severe health risks
It’s screening day at the headquarters of the Sierra Leone Association of Persons with Albinism (SLAPWA) in Freetown. Among the crowd, a frolicky young boy, Jeremiah, runs around as people are attended to. At eight, Jeremiah is unaware of the burden he carries due to his skin condition – albinism. “He is so playful that […]
Diabetes: big deal, but care remains out of reach for many in Sierra Leone
When Adama Sesay was diagnosed with diabetes in 2024, many worries ran through her mind. Foremost among them was the memory of her elder sister, whose leg was amputated as a result of diabetic complications. “For weeks I was depressed,” recalls the 63-year-old widow and mother of three. “I know what diabetes did to my […]
Silence on FGM undermines child protection in Sierra Leone
Every day, children wake up to a world shaped by choices they didn’t make. But every child, everywhere, also wakes up with rights, including the right to be protected, to learn, and to have their voice heard. World Children’s Day is meant to be a celebration of progress. A reminder of our duty to create […]
Maternal health in Sierra Leone: poverty and systemic neglect undermining women’s safety and dignity
When 28-year-old Emma arrived at a Freetown maternity ward to give birth, her biggest worry was the pain of labour. But that wasn’t the only challenge ahead of her. She also had to worry about money. “They only focused on the ones who had money, and because I lacked money, I had to suffer,” she […]