Ntawukuliryayo urges legislators to tackle population growth

Senate President, Dr. Jean Damascene Ntawukuliryayo, has urged the Rwandan Network of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (RPRPD) to double their efforts if the country’s population is to be controlled.While officiating at the RPRPD general assembly, Dr. Ntawukuliryayo, who has championed the population crusade for the past eight years, reminded fellow lawmakers that in spite of Parliament being engaged in solving the problem, the network does not seem to be putting in the necessary efforts.“There are statistics showing us that the good pace this country is on since the Genocide against the Tutsi, the problem of population explosion stops us from moving as fast as we want to,” Dr. Ntawukuliryayo observed.The first phase of the Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS) was implemented by up to 90 percent, according to the latest surveys.This is a welcome development that the former health minister acknowledged, but warily pointed out that if Rwandans do not appreciate that a rapidly growing population is a huge predicament, it would ruin the achievements, hence the need to adopt measures to restrain it.“For us, we are working for tomorrow’s generation. As members of RPRPD, I wish that we talk about this issue, because there are authentic statistics that indicate that if we continue with the fertility rate of 4.6, we are in trouble.”Ntawukuliryayo said the 4.6 fertility rate is an improvement – down from 6.1 in the past few years, which cannot be ignored; but that too is not good enough, saying a fertility rate of 2.1 was ideal.The government does not want to forcefully restrict Rwandans on the number of children people can bear and has opted for wide sensitisation. Two children per family are considered as ideal.On Friday, members of the network unveiled a proposed annual work plan with a budget of over Rwf. 154 million. Strategic activities in the plan include increasing the reproductive health level of the population and family planning, reducing HIA/AIDS incidence and other neglected diseases, gender equality, and research.They also held elections for a new committee.Dr. Ntawukuliryayo handed over RPRPD’s leadership to Gallican Niyongana, while Julienne Uwacu and Senator Donatille Mukabalisa were elected Vice President and Secretary General respectively.

National

Ntawukuliryayo urges legislators to tackle population growth