CONFERENCE OF AFRICAN MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR CIVIL REGISTRATION (CRMC) COUNTRY PAPER SIERRA LEONE
GENERAL BACKGROUND • • • Civil registration has been operative in Sierra Leone since colonial days at around 1791. It was primarily mandated to register births and deaths within the borders of Sierra Leone. In 1801, a Law was enacted making the registration of vital events compulsory for the founder of the colony of Freetown and Bonthe Island. Penalties for no registration was to be levied but this law was ineffective because by 1825, the colonial Secretary declared unavailability of births and deaths registration documents. In 1983 however, births and deaths Act No. 11 of 1983 was enacted, harmonizing and making registration of births, deaths and still birth compulsory throughout the country. This compulsory system means all births, deaths and still birth were to be registered by law. The Act therefore served as a modus operandi of births, deaths and still birth registration. Since then, not much effort has been made to update the act to meet modern day challenges.
CIVIL REGISTRATION PROCESS AND COMPLETENESS STATUS • • • Civil Registration as a process in Sierra Leone is still very Low particular in the provinces and its completeness status still a far cry as the structures and implements needed to entrance the process are still to be made adequately available to the far comer of the country. The process is therefore heavily dependent on the other health care service providers and good will of Non Governmental Organisations to be able to forge ahead. Political commitment is there but there is need for this commitment to be increased, by up grading the capacity of the institution and the staff and review the existing Act.
VITAL STATISTICS COMPILATION, ANALYSIS AND REPORT DESSEMINATION • • • Vital statistics compilation, analysis and report dissemination is done on quarterly and annual basis. Statistical returns on births, deaths and still births recorded and registered in our field office in the provinces are sent to the district headquarters towns on monthly basis, while the districts in turn compile and send to the national office on quarterly basis The national office compile, analysis and circulate annually for the consumption of the Government, NGO, UN, Churches and the general public.
CAUSES OF DEATH REGISTRATION AND REPORTING STATUS • Causes of death registrations and reporting status in Sierra Leone are undertaken for death occurring in both health clinics and homes. For deaths occurring in Clinics, a medical certificate of cause of death is normally issued out by the medical practitioner stating cause of death. • For those occurring at homes, the deaths statistical/notification report form is normally used as questionnaire to ascertain the causes of deaths. The reporting status of deaths particularly in the Western area appears very encouraging while the reporting status at the grass root level (provinces) needs improvement. •
INTEGRATION BETWEEN THE REGISTRATION AND STATISTICS OFFICES AND INVOLVEMENT OF PARTNER INSTITUTIONS • • Integration between civil registration and Statistics Sierra Leone is through meetings, consultations, collaboration and discussions on issues of mutual interest between the two institutions. Involvement of other partners like UNICEF and Plan Sierra Leone has been very helpful to the department since 2004. Both Plan and UNICEF jointly conducted mass birth registration of children under eighteen (18) country wide, between 2004 – 2007. UNICEF recently conducted in- service training for PHU Staff country wide and is still assisting in the printing and production of registration documents. A Proposal for the development of a data base for civil registration has been sent to UNICEF for approval and funding. We are very hopeful that UNICEF will approve the proposal.
CHALLENGES AND MEASURES TAKEN IN ALLEVIATING PROBLEMS RELATED TO CIVIL REGISTRATION • • • Staff strength to be increased. Staff training in relevant areas of civil registration There is logistical inadequacy to ensure effective civil registration coverage country wide. The need for computerization of births, deaths and still birth registration is very urgent For effective monitoring and supervision of data collection, the number of vehicles, motor bikes and bicycles need to increased. Supply of registration documents, computers and lap tops should be regularly provided. Request has been made to Government UNICEF and other agencies to improve the above situations.
WAY FORWARD • • • The best way forward is to transform the department into an autonomous body with full national and international support. Regular supply of registration materials , vehicles, motor bikes convenient office accommodation for national and district offices. Review and update the current Act. Improve salaries and conditions of service. Establishment of data base and area network and capacity building for the staff.
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