Has Sierra Leone really recovered from civil war?
After 11 years of civil
war within Sierra Leone order has been restored. Hundreds took refuge
in Kroo Bay to escape the massacres and other war crimes being
committed to only find themselves in an environment that is a far cry
from ideal.
However is it really
the case that order has been restored? After such horrific ordeals,
in particular the ‘hellish cycle of rape, sexual assault, and
mutilation’ of women and girls...” (1) does this represent a
reoccurring attitude towards women/girls in general within Sierra
Leone, if so what is the ongoing consequences of this?
Like many countries
that have been awash in civil war it takes a long time to heal and to
recover, not just economically but also socially. Sierra Leone is a
typical example of this as when civil war broke out refugees were
forced to flee, resulting in a slum area created from the rubbish tip
in Kroo bay.
Healthcare in Sierra Leone
For a refugee living
here in the present day, this is but the tip of their problems as
Malaria, Pneumonia, Cholera and infections are rife amongst the
inhabitants of this Shanti town. Many inhabitants are not able to get
basic health care as they can’t afford to pay for the treatment so
the health clinic is ineffective. (2) This is turn means that most of
the people here will die by the age of 35, leaving behind vulnerable
children. This would normally be a situation that would be
challenging for any country. For Sierra Leona it’s a greater
challenge still as they have limited resources resulting in a country
where basic social welfare can’t be met.
This is a pressing
matter as the cycle that follows is truly horrific.
When a child is left
without parents they quickly find themselves in a dire situation. The
basic need of food is now their main concern and without money (or a
way to make money) they are without doubt in great need. Boys tend to
mine Kroos stretches of water for copper cable which they sell on to
recyclers (3) this “work” is deemed too dangerous for girls. For
girls to survive it is much harder and it seems that due to attitudes
toward them they are in much more dangerous territory!
Marriage at a young age as a way out of poverty - Gender, Marriage and Healthcare in Sierra Leone
Juliet who is now 14
explains- she had lost both her parents and she was very frightened
as they had no money for food, however “..almost straight away
(once her parents had died) men came.” Although it is acknowledged
that she was not physically forced Juliet states that “She didn’t
want to lie down with him (she was 12 at this time) she did it
because she knew he would feed her.” (4) The lack of money for
basic needs such as food or clothes drives girls towards
transactional sex. (5)
This is sadly not a
solitary occurrence but one that is a continuous problem as many
males tend to use the girls lack of money for food to their
advantage. This in itself is a shocking situation as Sierra Leona is
meant to be part of the E.U where children are meant to be protected
against such abuse.
Many Girls in Sierra
Leona have their first pregnancy between the ages of 12-14 years old.
(6) This in itself is a problem as these girls are often suffering
from malnutrition so their pelvic bones have been stunted. This, as
well as the traditional Female genital mutilation, causes further
complications in childbirth and increases the chances of Fistula.
Sadly Fistula can be
prevented although the chances are much higher due to circumstances
outlined above, despite this though due to the girls immature bodies
and also the combined circumstance of “....lack of proper training,
leading to gross incompetence” (7) as although there is free
healthcare since 2010 as little as 137 trained midwives practice and
there are only 16 emergency obstetric facilities.(8) This healthcare
service is simply inadequate for the demand and many girls are left
in the care of untrained women.
It’s believed that
as many as 1 in 8 women in Sierra Leona suffer from Obstetric
Fistula. (9)
Obsteric Fistula is a
condition which occurs from an obstructed labour that is left
unrelieved and untreated. (10) It results in the girl being
permanently incontinence of urine (vesicovaginal fistula) and/or
faeces (rectovaginal fistula)(11) Now due to their inability to have
more children and their terrible odour many girls hide due to the
stigma attached to this condition. (12)
They are in turn
ostracized by their community as in Sierra Leona it is perceived that
“..If men don’t want you, you are nothing.” (13) Also the
terrible stench that results from this condition results in people
staying away and there is no way that the girls can combat this due
to the constant stream of urine/faeces.
This condition is not
only a terrible physical blow but also an emotional one, as it strips
the woman of the only dignity that she has left. There is only one
facility in Sierra Leona that provides Fistula repairs which is
funded by the British charity Freedom. This in itself provides much
needed care and rehabilitation, despite this though what happens when
this person returns to her community?
Still the downward
spiral continues, as Kadiatu states “my only means of survival is
to hawk fruits in the market and rely on favours from men who promise
love...” (14)
In retrospect to be
able to combat this issue there is so much more needed than just
providing adequate medical facilities, medical training and social
care. Though it is accepted that these facilities would ease the
suffering of many, it would simply address the symptoms rather than
the root cause.
The people in Sierra
Leona, in particular the women need changes in perceptions and
attitudes. For instance “there is such importance given to girls
marrying as virgins that the age of marriage often coincides with the
first occurrence of female menstruation”. (15) This in turn leads
to consummation of the marriage and in a country where there is
little sex education or indeed birth control she will quickly fall
pregnant.
To combat this there
needs to be access to sex education and to birth control, which will
in turn address the issues of young girls becoming pregnant (often a
result from transactional sex.) The transactional sex needs to be
addressed and measures taken, such as better social care provided for
orphans who are prone to this coercion.
Men who are guilty of
transactional sex should also be lawfully convicted of this crime,
especially as the E.U states that child abuse-“ Involves
forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual
activities, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening.”
(16) This
would also address the situation as many women who suffer from
Fistula are underage girls, the description of underage would apply
to many girls who have suffered with Fistula as the consensual age is
16 years old.
Much more needs to be
done here to protect such vulnerable girls who due to attitudes,
perceptions and economic situation have fallen prey to such
circumstances that they can’t seem to escape.
This is why it’s so
important that not only the symptoms are addressed but the root cause
of the suffering. Behaviours must change for communities to recover
if there is to be any hope for the present generation in Sierra
Leone.
References
- The Sunday Times Magazine, July 08 2012-12-02
- The Sunday Times Magazine, July 08 2012-12-02
- The Sunday Times Magazine, July 08 2012-12-02
- The Sunday Times Magazine, July 08 2012-12-02
- http://www.irinnews.org/Report/94280/SIERRA-LEONE-Fistula-hotline-launched
- http://www.fistulafoundation.org/whatisfistula/faqs.html#Q4
- The Sunday Times Magazine, July 08 2012-12-02
- The Sunday Times Magazine, July 08 2012-12-02
- Children Act 1989
