September 8, 2015 By Ibrahim Tarawallie
The Ministry of Health and Sanitation, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), will today launch the National Family Planning campaign themed: “Children by choice, not by chance”.
According to Programme Manager for Reproductive Health and Family Planning in the Health Ministry, Dr. Sulaiman Conteh, the aim of the campaign is to improve reproductive health by way of increasing the demand for family planning services.
He stated that the campaign is part of the nine-month recovery plan of the ministry, adding that more demand creation activities would be undertaken in the future.
Dr. Conteh noted that during the one-month long campaign, static and outreach activities, as well as services, will be provided in public health facilities across the country free of cost.
“Key activities will be based on demand creation and service delivery. It is our hope that services will be delivered routinely in all health facilities nationwide,” he said.
He added that as the country is driving towards sustaining zero cases in new Ebola infections, the health system is also re-engineering its service delivery points to instill more confidence in patients and service users.
“The objectives of the National Family Planning campaign are to increase the demand for family planning commodities and services in the context of Ebola, improve awareness and knowledge of FP (family planning) commodities and services as well as uptake of FP commodities,” Dr. Conteh stated.
He called on the media to disseminate messages of appeal to target beneficiaries to help increase demand for FP services and reduce high infant and maternal mortality rates in the country.
Also, UNFPA Assistant Country Representative, Ibrahim S. Kamara, re-affirmed their commitment to continue to support the government in ensuring that the lives of Sierra Leoneans are protected.