In Rivercess County, Liberia, where challenges like adolescent pregnancy are prevalent, UNFPA's support has brought transformative change. Benita, a 21-year-old mother of a four-year-old girl and a resident of Cestos City, Rivercess County, is one of the many young women whose lives have been touched by these efforts. “Without access to family planning,” Benita candidly admits, "I would have had five children by now." But after attending the youth-friendly centre at the St. Francis Hospital, she found not only mentorship but also crucial information on sexual and reproductive health, enabling her to make empowered decisions about her future.
Smartly dressed in her school uniform, Benita beams with pride as she speaks of how she has been able to continue her studies. Alongside her peers, she has made a pact to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Her story is echoed by others, like 19-year-old Grace, who confidently states, "I am not involved in any sexual relationship, and I won’t be until I finish my studies." For Grace, learning about her sexual and reproductive rights has given her the freedom to make choices about her body and future.
Empowering adolescents to take charge of their futures
UNFPA’s work in Rivercess County extends beyond these individual stories. With a population of about 96,350 people, including over 22,000 women of reproductive age, Rivercess has historically struggled with one of the highest adolescent pregnancy rates in the country—55 percent, compared to the national average of 33 percent.
Over the past two years, with funding from the Irish Government, UNFPA has provided integrated sexual and reproductive health services across 18 health facilities and 54 outreach sites, reaching both in-school and out-of-school youth in Rivercess County.
The programmes, delivered by 36 trained service providers and 30 Community Health Volunteers, support vital services like family planning, antenatal care, STI screening, and post-abortion care. Through comprehensive sexuality education programs in 20 schools, instructors and peer mentors have been guiding young people on sexual and reproductive health and rights, helping to shift cultural attitudes and empower the next generation to take control of their futures.
“We have observed some reduction in the number of adolescents visiting health facilities across the county to access antenatal care services,” says Isaac O. Garkpee, Acting Community Health Department Director (CHDD), Rivercess County Health Team.
As UNFPA continues its impactful work, discussions are underway to extend funding beyond 2024. There are also ongoing collaborative efforts with other UN agencies, including UNICEF and WHO, to strengthen the health system in Rivercess further, ensuring that young women like Benita and Grace can thrive and continue pursuing their dreams.
Safer deliveries thanks to Saint Francis Hospital Maternity Unit
Marthaline, a 40-year-old mother of ten, has seen first-hand the transformative power of UNFPA's support for maternal health services in Rivercess County. She had her first child at just 17, delivering at home because no clinics were nearby. Her subsequent four children were also born at home, but with the expansion of health services in her area, the five children who followed were all safely delivered at the St. Francis Hospital Maternity Unit.
"It was easier and safer at the clinic," Marthaline explains. "I came here for prenatal care, and the midwives gave me lots of information on what to eat to keep up my strength." The clinic's support proved to be lifesaving when she encountered complications during the birth of her 10th child. "It nearly killed me," she recalls, "and that's when I decided it was time for tubal ligation."
Today, Marthaline is healthy, and her five-month-old daughter is thriving, thanks to the comprehensive care she received. Her story is emblematic of the more significant transformation in Rivercess County, where maternal health services have dramatically improved since UNFPA began its direct support in 2018. This support included expanding the maternity wing at St. Francis Hospital and introducing critical family planning services, such as the first community-based injectable contraceptive (DMPA-SC/Sayana), which has since been scaled up nationwide.
Shaping health and choices for Rivercess women
Through these facilities, UNFPA has been able to deliver integrated sexual and reproductive health services, including family planning, emergency obstetric care, prenatal and postnatal services, and life-saving maternal care, all aimed at reducing maternal and neonatal deaths in the county.
The expansion of St. Francis Hospital’s maternity wing and adding a mini-theater for complicated deliveries have made it possible for women like Marthaline to receive timely care. UNFPA has also provided delivery beds, significantly improving delivery and referral services. The overall goal is clear: to ensure that no woman faces the risk of childbirth without access to the care she needs.
With continued funding from the Irish Government and close collaboration with partners like the Ministry of Health and the Young Men Christian Association (YMCA), UNFPA's work is shaping maternal health interventions and changing lives. Marthaline’s story is just one example of how access to quality maternal health services is creating a safer future for women and their children in Rivercess County.
