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MOH to step-up FP campaign in Karongi, Rubavu Districts
Officials of the Ministry of Health and local authorities in Rubavu and Karongi Districts have agreed on carrying out a robust campaign on family planning methods in Karongi and Rubavu Districts,Western Province, by using various channels of communication. Officials also agreed that community health workers should involve men in the family planning campaign.
The resolution was reached during a Sensitization meeting on Community Based Provision (CBP) of Family Planning Methods for Rubavu and Karongi Districts from 18-19 January 20012. Two separate meetings were held at Dian Fosey Hotel in Rubavu and Centre Bethel in Karongi. Supported by UNFPA, Community Based Provision is being implemented in Rubavu and Karongi Districts.
Participants in the meeting included the President of Rubavu District Council, vice mayors in charge of social affairs, hospital directors, district health directors, executive secretaries of sectors, heads of health centres, community health workers and representatives from the Ministry of Health and UNFPA. The meeting brought together 112 people: 43 from Rubavu District and 69 from Karongi District
The Ministry of Health is currently implementing various community health interventions all geared at improving health outcomes among the Rwanda population. The provision of family planning services by Community Health Workers (CHWs) is one of the key strategies implemented, with an aim to increase the uptake of family planning services.
Community Based Provision of Family Planning being offered includes counseling and provision of contraceptive pills, injectables (DMPA), cycle beads and condoms by the CHWs.
The Officer in charge of Family Planning at the Ministry of Health, Mr. Thomas Nsengiyumva said: “The programme of providing family planning services at the village level will greatly increase the number of people accessing family planning services and unfounded rumours about the effects of family planning will also reduce.”
So far 1,506 CHWs out of 2,232 have been trained. In 2012, trainings of CHWs will continue as well as formative supervision and sensitization of local authorities, civil society including religious leaders and members of the private sector.
Ms Emmerence Nyirabujeri, a nurse at Kibuye hospital said: “The offering of family planning services at village level by community health workers will help decrease our workload, as we will concentrate on administering long-term family planning methods.”
“CBP is a solution to the problem of inconsistency in the use of family planning methods. Women will be able to consult community health workers in their respective villages and at the same do their domestic work,” said UNFPA Rwanda’s National Programme Officer for Reproductive Health, Ms Daphrose Nyirasafali.
