AHF, PPASL Deliberate On Gender Equality

By Marilyn King

Aids Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and Planned Parenthood Association Sierra Leone (PPASL) on Friday 8th March 2024, which marks the International Women’s Day held panel discussions on Gender Equality.

The event was held at Sierra Palms Resort in Freetown.

The Prevention and Advocacy Manager of Aids Healthcare Foundation (AHF), Madam Esther Teh, said that on this International Women’s Day (IWD), they will use the event to recognize so many successes that women have achieved over the years.

She continued that they are using the IWD to identify the gaps, challenges that women are facing in Sierra Leone and across the world.

She furthered that they are gathered on IWD to ensure that they pledge commitment, and to ensure that they identify their efforts and to put in more efforts towards the work they are doing.

She noted that AHF is an International Non-Governmental Organization that is in Sierra Leone providing treatment, care and support to people living with HIV and AIDS.

She stated that the issue of Gender Equality is a whole lot of discussion that is why they invited people from their different partners to have panel discussions on Gender Equality.

She said they need vibrant women that are present to send their voices to what women are going through.
The Senior Technical Adviser Human Right Key Population of National / HIV AIDS Secretariat, Amara S. Libbie, said that as a secretariat they are making sure that they have an epidemic control.

He furthered that the epidemic control means that the rate of transmission of HIV becomes low, people have knowledge of HIV and even those living with HIV feels comfortable.

He stated that if people who are living with HIV do not feel safe, that means none of us as Sierra Leoneans are safe.
He said they have to deal with the issues of stigma, inclusivity as a priority and of course gender inclusion.

He maintained that for every one hundred, two people are positive with HIV and AIDS, Women, 2.2% compare to the male counterparts, which is 1.1% and young women, adolescents, noting that boys are 0.1% and girls are 1.5% and that the girls infecting to one boy.

He said women are most marginalized when talking about those affected with HIV and AIDS.

The Assistant Director Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Foday M. Sesay said that the Ministry has done its best to ensure that laws and policies are there to promote and address Gender Equality.

He noted that much has been done, which bothers around Gender Equality and as well as ending Gender Based Violence.
He said as a Ministry they have done remarkably well in terms of providing the 13 priorities.

He stated that policy 5 of the priorities guarantees the rights as well as the participation of people living with HIV and AIDS.

The Finance/Concern for disable women and children, Hannah Sesay, said that the celebration of the IWD is a significant milestone towards women’s empowerment in building resilience and inclusive society. “As we celebrate the 2024 IWD in Sierra Leone on the theme: Invest in women: Accelerate progress,” she said.

She explained that the aim is to inspire people and for them to understand the value of including women which resonates with the SDG’s mantra “LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND.”

She continued that Sierra Leone women with disabilities experience discrimination in multiple layers due to age, disability, gender, economic status.

She stated that according to UNICEF’s estimate, Female Genital Mutilation rate in Sierra Leone is 90% the highest level in the world. 38% of women with disabilities are in polygamous marriages, and 56% of women have been victims of intimate partners violence.

She said women with disabilities are 2-3 times likely to be victims of violence than their non- disabled counterparts.

Panel discussions of different partners climaxed the occasion.