Following the low number of men who show up for family planning sessions, men in Bungoma County have been advised to embrace family planning in a bid to support their wives in the management of the families.
Speaking at Bungoma County Referral Hospital (BCRH) in the Pediatric section on Monday to mark World Contraception day, Christine Naliaka, County Reproductive Health Coordinator said that it is shameful that few men want to be associated with family planning.
The officer said that it was important for men to be involved in the process as it creates harmony and enables the couples to make wise decisions together.
“I want to humbly ask couples to walk together when going for Family planning sessions so that everybody can be equipped with the knowledge and choose the appropriate family planning method that suits them,” She said.
Naliaka noted that those seeking family planning sessions in Bungoma county have improved from 30 percent in 2014 to 46 percent in 2022.
“Men and Women seeking family planning services in Bungoma County is still low though it has increased to 46 percent we need to increase the FP advocacy in Bungoma and its environs,” she said.
However, Naliaka said that out of the 35 percent of adolescents in Bungoma County only 13 percent visit health facilities and attend family planning sessions.
She said that Bungoma County health facilities are working in line with this year’s theme ‘Break the myth’ by providing Family planning services in all facilities in Bungoma County.
“Anybody seeking a family planning session can avail himself/herself at any health facility and get information on family planning methods,” she said.
She added those who are using a certain family planning method can still visit a health facility and switch to the favourite one as per their choice.
The officer noted that the data analysis by the County Health Management Team (CHMT) reveals that the most used family planning method used in Bungoma County is injection followed by implants.
She added that many choose injection because it expects an individual to get one jab for a period of 3 months.
However, she pointed out that 25 percent of the couples in Bungoma County are practising family planning silently.
“I ask the couples to be sincere to their partners during family planning plans,” she said.
Michael Waithaka, the champion who did family planning, and vasectomy, said that he took the initiative to plan the number of children to have.
Waithaka dismissed claims that family planning has side effects.
“I had a vasectomy 3 years ago but I haven’t seen its effects, I am a happy man and my wife is happy too,” he said, adding that he is a father of two boys.
Moses Ouma, a youth Champion from Stage Media Arts (SMA) Organization, called on the youths to practice family planning.
Ouma added that the organization normally advocates for family planning programs.
“Our organization SMA works with other small organizations within Bungoma and beyond to advocate for family planning methods and their importance,” Ouma added.
The organizations that are supporting family planning in Bungoma include; the Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent Health network, Evidence for Action (E4A) and Stage Media Arts (SMA).
