Hon. Sia Tommy, Member of Parliament representing Kono District, has commended President Dr. Julius Maada Bio’s administration for its efforts to advance human capital development, citing progress in maternal healthcare, gender equality, child protection, education and youth employment.
Contributing to the debate on the President’s State Opening Address in Parliament, Hon. Tommy described the government’s human capital development agenda as a practical framework centred on three key priorities: saving lives, protecting lives with dignity and creating opportunities for citizens to achieve their full potential.
On healthcare, she highlighted the reported reduction in maternal mortality from approximately 1,200 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2013 to about 354, describing the decline as evidence of sustained investment and improvements in the country’s healthcare delivery system.
She also commended the expansion of childhood immunization programmes, the introduction of HPV vaccination for girls and improvements in healthcare infrastructure. She specifically cited the provision of specialized medical equipment, including CT scanners and dialysis machines, which have improved access to advanced medical treatment within the country and reduced the need for some patients to seek healthcare abroad.
On gender equality and child protection, Hon. Tommy praised the government’s commitment to advancing the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment agenda through nationwide consultations and policies aimed at protecting women and children.
She maintained that women’s empowerment must extend beyond policy commitments to include economic opportunities, political representation, access to finance and protection against gender-based violence.
The Kono District MP also welcomed government initiatives on school feeding, improved nutrition, quality education and measures to keep girls in school. She emphasised the need for strict enforcement of laws prohibiting child marriage, stressing that poverty or teenage pregnancy should never deprive a girl of her right to education or force her into early marriage.
Addressing youth employment, Hon. Tommy welcomed President Bio’s target of creating 500,000 jobs within five years, describing it as an important benchmark for assessing the government’s employment commitments and performance.
She identified agriculture, construction, digital services and community development as key sectors with the potential to generate employment for young people. She further commended the government’s investment in technical and vocational education and training, noting that practical skills are essential to preparing young people for employment and national development.
Hon. Tommy also welcomed the commitment to publishing verified employment statistics, emphasizing that transparency and accountability are necessary to establish the actual impact of government employment programmes.
She argued that meaningful accountability requires clear and verifiable information on the number of jobs created, the beneficiaries employed and the duration and sustainability of those employment opportunities.
Concluding her contribution, Hon. Tommy stressed that human capital development must be treated as a continuous process linking healthcare, education, social protection and economic empowerment.
She noted that investment in maternal healthcare saves lives, protecting girls safeguards their future, while equipping young people with relevant skills and sustainable employment opportunities enables them to become productive contributors to society.
Her contribution underscored the importance of translating government policies and commitments into measurable results that directly improve the lives of women, children and young people across Sierra Leone.