MONROVIA — The Initiative for Women and Youth Empowerment (IWYE) is calling for increased government investment in family planning and sexual and reproductive health services, amid efforts to improve access to contraceptive information and services across Liberia.

IWYE Founder and Executive Director Musu Davis made the call during a media training organized by the organization under its ACCESS FOR ALL Project – Phase Two, which seeks to promote equitable access to quality and affordable contraceptive and sexual and reproductive health services.

Davis said increased financing for family planning within the Ministry of Health budget is necessary to improve access to contraceptive services, particularly for women and girls.

She also called for stronger government commitment to sexual and reproductive health and improved availability of quality services across the country.

According to Davis, the ACCESS FOR ALL Project is also working to strengthen advocacy and stakeholder engagement around Liberia’s commitments under the FP2030 framework.

The project is guided by five principles — Access, Equity, Health, Rights and Empowerment — which Davis said are central to ensuring that women, girls and young people can obtain accurate information and reproductive health services without discrimination, stigma or unnecessary barriers.

The media training brought together journalists and media practitioners to strengthen reporting on family planning, contraception and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR).

Davis said journalists have a responsibility to ensure that reproductive health information reaching the public is accurate, responsible and easy to understand.

She challenged media practitioners to use their platforms to address misinformation and stigma surrounding contraception and family planning, while encouraging public discussion on reproductive health.

“Let us use the power of the media to inform. Let us use information to empower. And let us use our collective voices to advocate for ACCESS FOR ALL,” Davis said.

A major session of the training focused on developing effective messages and media content on reproductive health and rights, including information on the accessible and safer use of contraceptive methods.

IWYE says the media engagement is part of its broader efforts to strengthen public awareness, advocacy and stakeholder participation in improving family planning and reproductive health services in Liberia.