Government launches Shs620b family planning scheme

 

Balancing the demand for employees and the supply of the family planning people to fill those roles is not an easy task and should involve the CEO. PHOTO | FILE 

By EMMANUEL AINEBYOONA

In Summary

According to the blueprint, between 2015 and 2020, the annual cost of the plan will be about $39 million (Shs108.2b). The new plan is also projected to reduce maternal deaths and teenage pregnancies.

Kampala- The Ministry of Health has launched a Shs622 billion family planning implementation plan to scale up services in the country during the next five years.

According to the State minister for Primary Health, Ms Sarah Opendi, the blue-print, titled: “Uganda Family Planning Costed Implementation Plan 2015-2020 (CIP),” will increase the number of women in Uganda using modern contraceptives from about 1.7 million currently to 3.7million by 2020, which will translate into 50 per cent family planning prevalence rate.

According to the blueprint, between 2015 and 2020, the annual cost of the plan will be about $39 million (Shs108.2b). The new plan is also projected to reduce maternal deaths and teenage pregnancies. Currently, family planning prevalence in Uganda stands at 34 per cent with about 17 women dying daily while giving birth.

High maternal mortality
“Uganda’s total fertility, maternal mortality, and teenage pregnancy rates remain among the highest globally. We still have a tall and uphill task, as many women and families would like to delay, space, or limit their childbearing but are not using family planning,” said Ms Opendi while officiating at the launch of CIP in Kampala on Thursday .

Ms Opendi said the money would be used to purchase family planning items and to reach out to the youth who are engaged in risky sexual behaviours.

Prof Anthony Mbonye, the commissioner for Community Health Services, said CIP would address existing family planning gaps which include: disparity in accessing services among the youth aged 10 to 24, address myths, misconceptions, and side effects and improve acceptance and continued use of family planning to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

Ms Cecile Compaore, the deputy country representative of United Nations Population Fund, said: “ Let us take advantage of the leadership demonstrated by the Ministry of Health and the commitment shown by the government to coordinate partners and stakeholders to increase access to family planning.”