The Family Planning awareness campaign that started in 2005 has registered tremendous success amongst women. This was revealed by Dr Fidel Ngabo, coordinator of immunisation and birth control activities in the ministry of Health.

"According to the Demographic Health Survey [DHS] done every five years, women using modern contraceptives were 10% in 2005. In 2007, the number increased to 27%,” Dr Ngabo said.

Dr Ngabo attributed the success to a strategic awareness plan of situating a family planning unit at every health unit to sensitise the masses, by the ministry of Health.

"There is an office that carries out awareness at each of the 385 health units and 40 district hospitals countrywide. They have been well equipped with birth control measures to counter the high population growth rate,” he said.

Dr. Ngabo revealed that a number of birth control methods that allowed people to exercise choice had been introduced that allowed people to exercise their liberty in choosing what control method to use, adding, "the family planning services were free.”

Dr. Ngabo, however, said that the awareness is faced with resistance, mostly from men and traditionalists.

"For the traditionalists opposed to drugs, we provide them with beads. It lets them know their menstruation period,” Dr Ngabo said.

He said that to counter the negative attitudes, awareness teams utilise every opportunity to pass on the message.
"When women come to hospital we tell them to come with their men.

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