(NAIROBI). As the world celebrates the
international day for contraceptive awareness, only two out of five women aged
15-49 in North Eastern region are currently using a modern contraceptive
method. For this reason, number of births per woman has remained high at
approximately 5.9 (according to the Kenya Demographic Survey (KDHS), 2008-09).
The World Contraceptive Day is a
global event celebrated on 26th September annually. In Kenya, the day
is used to take stock of the progress being made in managing the population.
The government uses this forum to inform and educate its population on the
dangers of rapid population growth as well as the benefits of contraception.
Between 1999 and 2009, Kenya’s
population grew at one million a year moving from 28.6 million to 38.9 million.
The government has ensured
provision of contraceptive methods to all who need them. These are available
for free in all government health facilities.
Since
January 2011, the medical staff have rolled out a plan to carry out health day outreaches
once weekly to attend to populations residing more than 10Km away from a health facility. The
Ministry of Health has also trained two nurses and a doctor in every facility
to support provision of long term and permanent contraceptive methods.
“With
only one wife and two children, my family is complete. We have a very happy
family which is a calming pill at the end of a tough day’s work,” beams
Omar Bashir, the Imam of Shekina Mosque. Mr Omar is also a trained family
planning champion and the Chairman of the Champs League in the region.
To mark this year’s event, the
Souvenir Community Development Programme has partnered with the Ministry of
Health, USAID- Tupange and the United Nations Fund for Population (UNFPA) and
has earmarked September for month-long community sensitisation camps that will
be coupled with services provision. These events will be conducted at community
centres in all the six districts of the North Eastern region. Posters showing
dates, community centres and services being offered have been distributed in
all market centres, mosques, churches and schools. Radio messages are also
being disseminated on the same.
“Contraception
is every woman’s best kept secret to a healthy and pleasurable life,”
confirmed Mrs Rukia Subow the National Chairlady of Maendeleo ya Wanawake
Organisation in Kenya
during a community event planning meeting. Mrs Subow appealed to girls to
concentrate on their education in order to escape the trap of early marriages
leading to early childbirth and increased exposure to risks that come with it.
((these are my thoughts for a FP project))
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