Sierra Leone: The need to improve on family planning

	The Ministry of Health and Sanitation in collaboration with United Nations Populations Funds yesterday organized a one-day orientation session for journalists in the western area on reporting maternal mortality reduction and other related health issues like the free health care and family planning. Dr Sarian Kamara, programme officer reproductive health/family planning in the Ministry of Health, said the training was very important because the media has the power to help educate the general public on every aspect of life, including health. She noted that one area that has been left out was family planning which she noted was very important and interconnected to the reduction of female and child health mortality in the country. She said that cost has been removed, and free health care is expected to help improve the health status of women and children in Sierra Leone. Dr Kamara observed that for a very long time lots of campaigns have not been done to encourage men and women, boys and girls to take family planning methods. read more www.ippf.org