Africa-Press – Liberia. Dr. Sennen Hounton, Regional Director of UNFPA West and Central Africa (WCARO), expressed his heartfelt appreciation and deep sense of humanity as he greeted Liberia and the people of Cestos City during his inaugural visit to the county.
“I’m so happy to be here,” Dr. Hounton said, explaining that although he oversees 23 countries in the region, the insistence of UNFPA’s Country Representative, Bidisha Pillai, led him to prioritize this visit.
Dr. Hounton extended his gratitude to the Liberian government, President Boakai, and the people of Cestos City for their warm reception, stating, “I would like to thank the government and the people of Liberia for the authorization and the warm welcome.”
He emphasized the core mission of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), focusing on ensuring that no woman should die while giving birth, that pregnancies are a choice and not by chance, and that women are protected from violence.
“It is a noble mission,” he remarked, underscoring the organization’s commitment to population health, women’s empowerment, and the need for accurate census data to ensure that “every single one of us is counting and accounted for.”
Dr. Hounton also highlighted UNFPA’s role in empowering young people. “We want to make sure that every young person’s potential is fulfilled,” he said, noting the organization’s work with young girls to help them stay in school and protect them from risks like HIV, teenage pregnancy, and early marriage. “They can be whatever they want to be: a law enforcement officer, a representative, a UNICEF officer, or whatever their God-given potential allows them to be.”
During his visit, Dr. Hounton is meeting with key stakeholders, including government officials, donors, and development partners, with a focus on ensuring better health outcomes for Liberian women and youth. “I’m here to see firsthand how we can better serve the people of Liberia,” he added, committing to witness the health facilities supporting safe childbirth and engaging with young people to better understand their needs.
Hon. Byron W. Zahnwea, Superintendent of Rivercess County, welcomed Dr. Hounton and UNFPA’s delegation, expressing the county’s gratitude for the organization’s intervention, which has helped reduce the high rate of teenage pregnancy in the region. “With your intervention through YMCA, we are seeing a reduction,” he said, acknowledging that while challenges remain, progress is being made.
He praised the rehabilitation efforts at St. Francis Hospital, which now serves the entire county, thanks to UNFPA’s support. “For the working of the theater and the beds provided, it has helped our people access the basic services we need,” he noted, further appealing for training programs to ensure the sustainability of these improvements.
UNFPA Country Representative Bidisha Pillai reaffirmed the organization’s long-term commitment to Liberia’s development objectives. During the visit, UNFPA reiterated its focus on critical issues such as teenage pregnancy, maternal health, and reproductive services. The partnership between UNFPA and Liberia remains a cornerstone in tackling these challenges, as both parties work toward improving health outcomes and addressing the needs of the country’s most vulnerable populations.
Despite the absence of the Minister of Health, who was unable to attend due to other commitments, the health sector remains a priority for the Liberian government. The Minister continues to focus on creating strategic solutions to combat teenage pregnancy and improve reproductive health across the country.
“This collaboration is something we should truly value,” stated the UNFPA representative, emphasizing the importance of continued support from both local authorities and international donors. Dr. Hounton, while reflecting on previous visits to Liberia, vowed to maintain UNFPA’s unwavering support in addressing Liberia’s health challenges and delivering critical services to the population.
As UNFPA continues to strengthen its partnership with Liberia, the hope is that together, they will achieve transformative results for women, youth, and the most vulnerable communities across the country.
Hon. Byron W. Zahnwea, Superintendent of Rivercess County. On behalf of the people of Rivercess, we take this time to welcome you to the county.
We take this opportunity as a serious opportunity for the people of River Cess for the background of your intervention into River Cess that are moving us forward.
We also thank the county health team and YMCA for their continued work that they are doing for the people of River Cess, and especially for our young people.
There were surveys being done in this part of our country where the infants of teenage pregnancy were at a huge level, but with your intervention through the YMCA, we are seeing a reduction. We know that it is a process, but where we are today, we are grateful.
Because of the lack of services, it created problems where most of our school-going girls could not go to school, but because of your intervention, we have them in grades in our educational system in this part of our country.
The issue of reproductive health is very key, and again we want to say big for your intervention at the St. Francis hospital: “This hospital is the hospital that hosts almost the entire county, but for the rehabilitation and the working of the theater, it has helped our people to have those basic services that we need at the level of the county.”
We also want to thank you for the beds that you provided in the hospital, thank you for the support that you continue to give to the hospital, and again, we are appealing to you people to train us so that when you leave tomorrow and turn the facilities over to us, we can be able to take care of what you are leaving behind with us.
UNFPA Country Representative Bidisha Pillai During a recent visit to Rivercess County, representatives from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) emphasized the organization’s continued support for Liberia’s development objectives.
This visit highlighted the critical partnership between UNFPA and Liberia, focusing on addressing pressing issues such as teenage pregnancy and other health challenges.
The Minister of Health, who was unable to attend due to other commitments, remains deeply concerned about the persistent issue of teenage pregnancies in Liberia.
Although the Minister was not present, she is actively working on strategies to address these challenges, with a focus on creating effective solutions to end them.
In a statement, a UNFPA representative emphasized the importance of the partnership between UNFPA and Liberia. “This collaboration is something we should truly value. As UNFPA continues to assist Liberia, it is crucial that we support the country’s development goals and objectives,” they said.
The representative noted that this visit is part of a broader effort to reinforce the partnership. Reflecting on previous visits, including a significant one in March, they expressed their commitment to supporting Rivercess County. “While I may not be dreaming about your problems, I am deeply concerned and thoughtful about Riverside County. Our goal is to offer unwavering support and excellent collaboration as we work together to address your challenges.”
The representative also promised to convey the concerns raised during the visit to the Minister of Health, urging donors and stakeholders to unite in addressing these critical issues. The continued collaboration between UNFPA and local authorities aims to enhance health outcomes and support the development of Liberia’s most vulnerable regions.
Students in Rivercess County, who have benefited from UNFPA’s initiatives, expressed their gratitude for the support and motivational efforts towards girls’ education.
Many of them, including those who experienced teenage pregnancies, spoke about the positive changes brought by UNFPA’s programs and their ongoing commitment to spreading awareness in their communities.
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