BY: MARIAMA JANET DEEN
In Sierra Leone, teenage pregnancy is a vice that is yet to be curtailed. Teenage pregnancy is caused by so many factors. Sometimes the truth behind teenagers becoming pregnant is not actually deliberate. Most Sierra Leoneans perceive teenagers becoming pregnant as a result of early sex, peer group influence etc. What if these teenagers are victims of circumstances? Her Story Salone Series introduces a teenage mother who is a Sierra Leonean that lives in Waterloo Community.
Life As It Is
Abibatu Tucker is a 16-year-old Sierra Leonean who loves education without any bounds. She was living a life full of serenity and love with her family in the provinces before relocating to Waterloo Community, in the Western Area Rural District to live with her aunt. Who would not grab the opportunity to live and be educated in a big town? Her family thought it was the best decision they made by sending Abibatu to live with her aunt in Waterloo.
Life was good! She started attending a school at Waterloo where she sat the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and had aggregate 27. For her family, that was a good try! She thought that was the beginning of greater achievements. But then, life came knocking.
The aunt she stayed with could not afford to support her through her Senior Secondary School education and also started maltreating her. Abibatu thought she could support herself to complete her education at such a tender age. This sharp twist of things made her vulnerable as she was looking for parental love and care. She became a victim.
She met a man old enough to be her father, who showed her the love she wanted. He took care of her financially. She thought she had it all. Unfortunately, for that love and financial support to continue, she had to give something in return. She had no choice! She engaged in early and unprotected sex. Motherhood visited.
Her Realities
Abibatu became pregnant at the age of 16. The first thought that came to mind was abortion, but how could she undergo an unsafe abortion? She thought that the best option was to keep it. Her baby daddy acted like he loved the idea. He gave his support at the beginning of the pregnancy after Abibatu was driven away by her aunt.
During the last trimester of her pregnancy, things went downwards. She found out that the baby daddy was a married man residing in the provinces and only came to Freetown on official duties. She was devastated!
The struggles and suffering she went through broke her. She had nowhere to go. She had no one to ask for help. She just could not go back to her family in the provinces. She felt rejected and abused. Life had to move on. After she gave birth, she had to take care of her daughter and herself. She started selling foo-foo at the Waterloo market.
She became a dropout teenager with a child to feed.
Unfulfilled Dreams
At a very tender age, Abibatu desired to become a medical nurse. She loved caring for the sick and helpless. From the onset, she wanted to become educated in order to empower her family. She wanted a better life for her family.
Abibatu’s situation is pathos. She is still struggling to make ends meet. She’s worried about her future and that of her baby’s.
Would Abibatu achieve those dreams? Would she be able to continue school?
The untold truth is that girls sometimes get pregnant in the midst of trying to empower themselves by acquiring education because they can not afford the expenses that come with it.
Her Message to Victims of Teenage Pregnancy
“I am a victim of teenage pregnancy, which was not planned. I was vulnerable and needed help. I was not so lucky, the help turned out to be a disaster. I believe it’s not too late to correct my mistakes. If you have the opportunity to be educated, do take it with all seriousness and determination. We can still change societal perception. Let’s make Sierra Leone a better nation together.” – Abibatu Tucker
Call for Help
Abibatu Tucker wants to continue her education. She wants to become a nurse. She is kindly asking the Government, Non -Governmental Organizations, Private Institutions and anyone who is capable of helping her to further her education by providing her with school logistics and to also help in taking care of her child.
About Sponsors
Pikin Bizness is a Non-Governmental Organization set up in 2001 with the purpose of helping vulnerable children with health problems. The organization was founded by three philanthropists: Dr Adonis Abdoud ( Chief Executive Officer), Babara Bangura and Shelac Sunny Davies. The organization has sponsored many children with holes in their hearts to undergo successful surgeries in different hospitals abroad.
Girls Plus is an initiative of the Asmaa James Foundation, driven by community-led interventions aimed at providing access to education and information on comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights in Sierra Leone.
findmymethod.org is an online platform that provides reliable information on sexual reproductive health and rights( e.g. contraceptive methods).
Photo Credit: Moseray Koroma ( Super Mos Photography): +23278145373/ +23288914840
