Family Planning centres have been set up at the village level in Kabarole district, to increase the community’s awareness about family planning.
The 70 centres were set up last month by Kabarole district local government, using funds allocated to family planning.
A survey carried out by the the district health department last year, found out that 65% of the people in the district are ignorant about family planning.There were also complaints from other communities especially those in rural areas about the failure to access the services at the various health centres because of the bad roads and long distance.
At some of the centres visited by Uganda Radio Network, men and women are taught how to use the different methods of family planning by staff from the district health department and those from the Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) Fort Portal branch.
At the family planning center in Harugongo village in Kichwamba Sub County, over sixty people are taught about the service in a large tent. During the sessions, some couples ask questions regarding the various methods and also give testimonies on why they have not been using family planning.
Astar Kabasiita, a resident of Harugongo trading center says that she could not go to Kichwamba health centre for family planning services because it is 20 kilometers from her home.
Kabasiita also says that she used to think that family planning was for the elite only and this explains why she was afraid to go to clinics for the services.
She says that with the knowledge gained, her negative attitude towards family planning will change.
Bernard Mugurusi, a resident of Burungu village says that he and the wife were ignorant about family planning. Mugurusi who has one child says that he had planned to have five or seven children because his clan demands that he has many children.
He says that visiting the center has enabled him gain knowledge on family planning and he doubts if he will have more children because of the meager resources.
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Gorreti Kemigisa, the in-charge reproductive health desk at the district health department says that the family planning centres are convenient because the service providers have the opportunity to interact with the community.
Kemigisa says that they had chosen to use radio stations to disseminate information but the costs are high.
She however says that they have received reports that some men do not want their wives to go to the centres.
