Ivory Coast: girls should run their future
In Soubré district, in the south-east of Ivory Coast, Médecins du Monde (Doctors of the World France) receives dozens of girls and young women. They all come with the same story, that of an unwanted pregnancy. Social, economic and family pressure, the absence of a policy favorable to women rights or the fear of judgements are factors that prevent women from freely enjoying bodily autonomy, especially girls who have very little control over their sex life. They lack information about contraception and the way to access reliable and safe means of contraception. It is consequently impossible for them to prevent an early pregnancy.
Faced with these difficulties, Médecins du Monde is implementing a project in Soubré to prevent and manage unwanted pregnancies in schools. The teams of the association work to improve sexual and reproductive health services, taking into account the specific needs of adolescent girls. Spaces dedicated to counselling and advice are set up, the actors of education and health are trained, health centers are reinforced and the population as well as the authorities are informed about this specific issue. All these efforts are made to give hope to young girls, to help them find their way back to school and take control over their future.
A reportage by Olivier Papegnies for Médecins du Monde (Doctors of the World France) – September 2018