The Youth Partnership for Peace and Development (YPPD) proudly participated in the just-concluded National Health Summit, a landmark three-day event that convened national and international stakeholders to reflect on the future of Sierra Leone’s health system. With a strong focus on equity, accountability, and inclusion, YPPD’s presence served as a strategic opportunity to advance youth leadership in health policy—particularly in the area of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR).
Theresa Masuba, YPPD’s Gender Advisor and SRHR Lead, played a pivotal role in coordinating with the Ministry of Health, ensuring that adolescent and youth voices were not only heard but meaningfully engaged throughout the Summit. Her leadership resulted in the inclusion of young people in various plenaries and breakout sessions, where they addressed critical issues such as access to adolescent-friendly services, mental health support, and youth accountability in health governance.
Accompanying the delegation was Saidu Ibrahim Bangura, YPPD’s Community Education and Training Officer, who provided guidance and support to five adolescent and youth representatives from the SRHR Coalition. These young leaders actively contributed to key sessions, offering insights grounded in lived experience and community-level realities. Their presence underscored the importance of youth-driven dialogue in shaping a responsive and inclusive health sector.
To enhance awareness and advocacy, copies of the Agenda for Action for Adolescents (AAA) were reproduced and made accessible at various exhibition booths throughout the Summit. This helped increase visibility and encouraged engagement from delegates, many of whom expressed keen interest in adopting elements of the AAA into their institutional strategies and programming.
Importantly, the participation of the Adolescent and Youth (AY) Constituents in the National Health Summit was supported through the Advocating for Adolescents’ Health and Well-Being project, generously funded by the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH). This project has been instrumental in equipping youth with the knowledge, tools, and platforms needed to advocate for their health rights and well-being.
Being at the National Health Summit alongside adolescent and youth leaders was a powerful reminder that young people are not just beneficiaries of health systems—they are key stakeholders. Their voices bring urgency, truth, and vision to the table, and I am proud that YPPD continues to create space for that leadership to thrive.”
— Saidu Ibrahim Bangura, Community Education and Training Officer at YPPD
As YPPD continues to champion youth leadership in national health discourse, the National Health Summit stands out as a testament to what is possible when young people are trusted, supported, and empowered to lead. We look forward to deepening our collaboration with the Ministry of Health and partners to ensure that adolescent health remains a top national priority.