The Council of Churches in Sierra Leone has rightly emphasised the sanctity of life and the need for thoughtful deliberation on the Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Care Bill. As people of faith, we are called to protect the vulnerable, heal the suffering, and preserve life. This Bill provides a historic opportunity to live out that calling by saving the lives of countless women and, in doing so, strengthening families, communities, and future generations.
Every day in Sierra Leone, 3 to 4 women die from pregnancy complications, with unsafe abortions responsible for 1 in 3 maternal deaths. These are not mere statistics—they represent daughters, sisters, mothers, and wives whose lives have been cut short needlessly. Whether we like to admit it or not, abortion is already happening across the country. As Dr Binta Mansaray aptly noted on X, “Women and girls have always had abortions and will continue to do so. The bill proposes increased access to prevention and timely, safe abortions when needed. No, women and girls do not need approval from spouses and boyfriends to access healthcare. It is not 1924.”
The staggering reality is that 8 out of 10 young women aged 16 to 25 have either had an abortion or attempted to terminate a pregnancy. Criminalising abortion does not stop it; it only pushes women into unsafe, life-threatening alternatives. The Safe Motherhood Bill does not promote abortion—it regulates and provides a safer, humane alternative so that no woman must die in the shadows of backstreet clinics.
Both the life of the mother and the unborn child are sacred, and it is precisely for this reason that we must support this Bill. Jesus’s command to “love thy neighbour as thyself” (Mark 12:31) does not favour one life over another. Loving children in the womb means ensuring that their mothers survive to nurture and protect them. When a woman dies from unsafe abortion, we lose not only her but her potential to raise, care for, and sustain life in her community. This is not a choice between the mother and the unborn child; it is about creating the conditions where both lives can thrive.
Christ’s ministry teaches us to uplift the marginalised, heal the suffering, and act with compassion. In Sierra Leone, many women who face unsafe pregnancies are already burdened by poverty, violence, or stigma. Supporting the Safe Motherhood Bill is an act of love and mercy—it is a practical step toward alleviating preventable suffering and honouring the dignity of every human being.
Culture evolves, and our faith calls us to respond to the needs of our people with justice and understanding. Providing access to safe healthcare is not an abandonment of our values; it is the very essence of Christian compassion. We cannot turn a blind eye to the silent deaths of our women and girls when we have the means to prevent them.
Let us follow Christ’s example by acting with courage, wisdom, and love. Supporting the Safe Motherhood Bill is not about division; it is about unity in our shared commitment to life, dignity, and justice. Let us join hands to create a safer, healthier future for our daughters, mothers, and sisters, where no life is needlessly lost, and every woman is given the chance to live and thrive