Rwamagana - An international NGO has expressed concerns that failure to institute appropriate control measures by Rwanda would mean that its population will blossom to 18 million by 2020. At a reproductive health workshop held last tuesday in Rwamagana, Intra-health Goboka, a non Government organization (NGO), revealed the possibility of registering a dramatic population increase if adequate control measures are not instituted. In such as situation the NGO warned of direct consequences for citizens. Consequently intra-health sensitized its audience on the importance of child spacing as one of the more credible birth control measures. Intra-health named culture and religion as the main causes of population increase in Rwanda. “If the trend does not change, the population of Rwanda will hike to 18 million by 2020. The problem is within the people’s faith and culture. For example, certain religious leaders having been telling citizens not to use condoms and other forms of contraceptives,” Dr. Eugene Rwabuneza said. “40% of health centres in Rwanda are financed by religious institutions,” he clarified. Meaning that religion closely impacted in reproductive health issues. He further caused public excitement when he said that, “the culture of praising a mother after giving birth also increases the population,” he added. Intra-health advised the attentive audience to resort to a birth control measures they christened 2 by 2 . “It is better for a couple to produce two children. It allows each parent to cater for one child. This is what we refer as to as a 2 by 2 method,” an intra-health official observed. In reaction, the audience tasked the present government officials to end rumours that a 3 child per family policy, is underway.“There is nothing like 3 children per family policy in the making. They are just rumours! Producing children is a human rights issue, we cannot infringe,” Jean Baptiste Bizimana, a member of parliament said. Ends
