BUGESERA – The poor response to family planning programmes in Bugesera district has been blamed on religion and illiteracy. Talking to The New Times, the district vice Mayor, Léonile Narumanzi said the district has shifted to fighting illiteracy as part of wider efforts to address such hindrances.
BUGESERA – The poor response to family planning programmes in Bugesera district has been blamed on religion and illiteracy.
Talking to The New Times, the district vice Mayor, Léonile Narumanzi said the district has shifted to fighting illiteracy as part of wider efforts to address such hindrances.
"Family planning usage is still at 38% in the whole district.
This is a very low figure that calls for serious and workable solutions. We need to check population growth if we are to develop,” she said.
"Ririma sector ranks last in family planning due to its religious attachment also linked to the existing health centre. The health centre is headed by Catholic nuns, who don’t believe in artificial ways of family planning.”
Vital Ruzagiriza, the Ririma Sector Executive Secretary, also stressed that Ririma Health Centre doesn’t offer family planning services to the people on religious grounds.
He appealed to the government to set up a health post to offer exclusively family planning services in Ririma.
"Some people understand the importance of family planning, but have to walk a very long distance to Gashora to access the services,” he said.
"Since the existing health centre can’t help them, I would suggest for an alternative facility.”
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