Men ‘shunning family planning’

By ISAAC MESO

Most men particularly in rural areas are still reluctant to  embrace family  planning methods  despite available reproductive health programs, a health official has said.

Dr. Bartilol Kigen, Program manager at the Ministry of Health said that most men especially in the rural areas still were reluctant to embrace family planning methods delegating this responsibility to their female partners

Kigen was speaking at Serena, in Nairobi yesterday during a media briefing to mark Kenya’s leadership and commitment to family planning 2020 goals following the London summit on family planning on 7th November 2013.

Kigen called upon men to also embrace family planning methods as it was upon both parties to engage in issues to do with reproductive health at the family level.

Fred Segor, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Health said that Family planning was one of the most cost-effective methods to improve the health of women and provides them with the tools to plan their families and their lives. Segor said that government had recently reinforced its commitment to family planning by reorganizing and relaunching its National Council for population and Development as a semi-autonomous government agency. “To reach the most marginalized populations with improved access to affordable contraceptive options, the government will expand its voucher system to provide easier access to reproductive health services, including family planning” he said. He further said that the government was on track to achieve its goal of reaching a 56% modern contraceptives prevalence rate by 2015.

The PS noted that the government was also committed to reaching the youth with reproductive health information and services.