Livewire – Amnesty International blogging for human rights

The Bishop Johnson Memorial School, before the launch © Amnesty International

Khairunissa Dhala is a campaigner in Amnesty International’s Africa team.

After days, weeks and months of planning, the first day of the caravan and campaign launch on maternal mortality in Sierra Leone has arrived!

The event is being held at Bishop Johnson Memorial School, which is next door to Princess Christian Maternity Hospital (PCMH) and one of Freetown’s biggest slums called Moaf.

We hope to attract people from these areas as they are most affected by the issues surrounding maternal mortality.

We are expecting 5,000 people at the Freetown launch. The Sierra Leone section has spent the last few weeks
advertising the event in newspapers and on the radio and everyone is really excited.

Omotola, a Nigerian actress and UN Ambassador for Women and Children, has spent the last few days working with Amnesty International to promote the campaign. She gave several interviews on the radio and visited PCMH
where she was greeted by throngs of fans.

Solomon, Emma and Alex from Amnesty International's Sierra Leone section © Amnesty International

Omotola, along with five local artists, have made an Amnesty International soundtrack to raise awareness on maternal mortality in Sierra Leone. It has a very catchy beat with a powerful message and I look forward to seeing them perform it live today. They performed it for us the other day and everyone loved it.

Along with the song, today’s events will include a speech by our Secretary General, Irene Khan, who will officially launch the caravan. We will also show our film and play.

There are also 30 volunteers who will be asking people to sign a petition to the President of Sierra Leone calling for better maternal health care services. Fingers crossed everything will run smoothly and this will be the start of
something great… but for now, I’d better go and get organised!