By: Saidu Jalloh (Intern)
The service Marketing Manager of Marie Stopes, Mr. Fayia Foray has on the 9th October 2023 in a Radio program affirmed Marie Stopes aim to support government in strengthening its health facilities in Sierra Leone.
Speaking at the program, the Service Manager of Marie Stopes, Fayia Foray used the opportunity to explain the establishment of Marie Stopes in which he said was dated way back to 27th August 1986. In his address to the host, he explained that Marie Stopes had been known as the leading family planning services provider but in early this year, he said they have extended their services beyond family planning service and they are the currently the leading women’s services provider in Sierra Leone.
‘’We are offering services that we were not offering before examples of the services are Cervical cancelling, facility canceling management and menopause cancelling and management which to him it is not available in any hospital expect Marie Stopes Clinics,’’ Mr. Foray said.
He continued that they have general medical services at their clinics like ultra sound scan, cervical cancelling and the host of others. He furthered that Marie Stopes is not only providing services for women only they also do that for men, young and old people also, and he said that they are also treating all kinds of sickness including diabetes.
He maintained early this year they have embarked on a program called Valentine Samba in February which targeted young girls because this is the period when they are getting excited about life and wanted to go extra mile. He also stated that in July they brought another program called Cover Clothes Samba which targeted ambitious mother.
Explaining the meaning of ambitious mother he said are women that are marry or those who are not married but have reached their reproductive. He said this program target them specifically to ensure when they give birth they can continue their dream and contribute to the home. He explained the aims of Marie Stopes; one of the aims is that they want to support government to strengthen health facilities in Sierra Leone to make sure that health facilities stand strong with their support at the point in government will satisfy, also Marie Stopes wants to ensure access and empowerment to health care for women since 60% of people spending on health are women so they want to give them this opportunity because 98% of their client are women and they are also provided service to men.
He expressed that their promotion which they are offering to the public some of them are free while some are paid for with a 25% discount across all their mobile clinic and the government clinic they are working with the 133 government facilities in which they are providing mentorship for them. He noted that also across their mobile clinic, they are offering all kinds of family planning and also all kinds of essentials health services like Sexual Transmitted Diseases treatment and ultra sound scam for pregnant women to know the status of their children and reveal their sex.
Mr. Foray stated the categories of women that should go for sexual prevention; women that are sexually active and married couples who want to have small family. He also told the public that they are provide cancelling to people at any time they visit their clinic, they will take them through the services that they are providing so that the people will know the service exactly available and also the side effect of any medication they give.
He advised on the use of sexual preventive medication, he advised that women should not use I Pills more than five and I Pills is for people who are not using any contraceptive or are using contraceptive pills but they should use it when they are about to see their spouse.