Over 620,000 Women Use Modern Contraceptives, Says Health Minister
By SKS
As conversations around global health solutions intensify at the U.N. General Assembly #UNGA80, the Minister of Health, Austin Demby, PhD, MPH, highlights progress in reproductive health with an estimated 620,000 women using modern contraceptives in 2024, up from 280,000 back in 2012.
Addressing a high-level strategy session on “Powering Progress for Family Planning and Reproductive Health at the United Nations Foundation in Washington, D.C., Dr. Demby emphasized the Government’s unwavering commitment to advancing reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health through the life stages approach, an innovative healthcare solution that tailors services through every stage of the human life.
Dr. Demby stressed the need for an integrated framework that serves as Sierra Leone’s roadmap to achieving universal health coverage and zero preventable maternal deaths. According to Minister Demby, the progress in contraceptive use has already prevented 230,000 unintended pregnancies, 85,000 unsafe abortions, and 740 maternal deaths.
“The modern contraceptive prevalence rate has risen to 27.4%, while demand satisfaction has reached 59.1%. These are clear markers of President Bio’s commitment to accelerated progress under FP2030,” he points out.
Dr. Demby called on global partners to align support with Sierra Leone’s priorities to help close critical financing gaps and reinforce sustainable systems for family planning and reproductive health. The strategy session brought together senior leaders from FP2030, the Global Financing Facility, Engender Health, the Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition, and other global health partners to explore opportunities for collaboration, sustainable financing, and impact at scale on the path to 2030
