Sister Aid Liberia, an organization operating in Liberia with most of its attention drawn towards women’s rights, among others issues, recently hosted a one-day media engagement training for journalists on the new public health law, which is before the Liberian Senate for occurrence.
Journalists from a number of media institutions were trained on the importance of the entire public health law at the National Legislature.
The purpose of the recent media gathering at Sister Aid Liberia was to have journalists involved in the awareness process of the new public health law. Journalists were taught to focus on the positive aspects of the law.
In recent time, the issue of abortion in the new public health law has taken centerstage in the public space.
The proposed public health law has over fifty (50) pages, which covers every segment of the health sector of Liberia.
At the end of the one-day media engagement, journalists made the following recommendations: more awareness among regional and traditional leaders on sexuality education and policy engagement, community engagement with local stakeholders on the new health law, dramatization on unsafe abortion, among others.
Liberia currently operates an outdated health law. The old health law was enacted in 1956 by the Legislature, and does not meet current health reality.
The Liberian Senate is yet to concur with the lower House on the new law.