Chief calls for steps to check increasing birth rate

Ajumako (C/R), April 19, GNA - Nana Effua Essiwah II, chief of Breman Essiam in Ajumako Essiam Enyan District has said Government's effort to provide the citizens with the needed amenities will appear to be inadequate if the increasing birth rate in the rural communities is not placed in check. She noted that teenage pregnancy was rampant and accounted for the increase in the birth rate. He therefore appealed to the authorities to take pragmatic steps to address the situation. Nana Essiwah said this when the Ajumako Essiam Enyan District Directorate of Ghana Health Service launched a long-term family planning programme at Essiam at the weekend. Members of the community, including market women, school children and farmers were introduced to the various family planning techniques such as male and female sterilization, the use of Intra Uterine Device(IUD)and jadelle.

She called on the members of the community to do away with cultural practices that cherished, adored and rewarded couples who had the tenth child, saying these practices were no longer useful to society. Miss. Adriana de-Heer The District Director of Health Service who launched the programme said it was noticed in the area that most men have negative perception that, their wives were indulging extra-marital affairs when they adopted family planning practices and advised them against that notion. She said men who were against their wives indulging in family planning were the very people who refused to accept or frown on unwanted pregnancies and subsequently shirked their parental responsibilities. She urged the society to make family planning part of their life to enable them to live decent lives and improve on their standard of living. Madam Esther Amankwa, the Public Health Officer in-Charge of the District said the programme would be extended throughout the District to help sensitized the people on the benefits of family planning. 19 April 09 Attention recipients: Item 09 ends our third cast