Deputy Speaker of Parliament Dr Jean Damascene Ntawukuriryayo, Monday, called for an increased access to condoms by the public as the best applicable family planning measure.

He said this during an award-giving ceremony that was held to honour journalists who have created significant awareness on the use of family planning methods- a prerequisite for development.

While addressing the media, Ntawukuriryayo, who is also a former health minister argued that emphasizing abstinence is not practical adding that if condoms are within reach for the entire population then the "stigma” about their use will cease to exist.

"Condoms are used for family planning. They help the users to avoid unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. Unfortunately most people still think that they are manufactured for sex workers.”

"I personally advocate for condom use as a practical measure for the youth…availing them to the public will completely break the stigma that is attached to their use and those who do not wish to use them can opt for other modern family planning methods available,” Ntawukuriryayo emphasized.

Citing the country’s high fertility rate of 5.5 in relation to the 52 percent poverty level, the former Minister called upon journalists to strengthen the awareness about family planning and reproductive health or else population figures will soar to 16.5 million by the year 2020.

He also explained this as a challenge that most developed countries like the so-called Asian Tigers have gone through, noting that Rwanda can equally lower her fertility rate and increase her gross domestic product.

"Now that we have achieved a 27 percent use of modern contraceptives from 10 in only three years, it is a big achievement but not enough. We must struggle to reach at least about 70 percent so that our population is directly proportional to available resources hence development,” he added.

Different Ministries and parliamentarians organized the event in conjunction with Intra-Health, a Non Governmental Organisation.

Officials hailed the role of journalists in this cause stressing that they must explain to the public exactly what is happening in relation to population growth and its effects.

The New Times’ Eugene Mutara was awarded among the best.

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