By Matilda Atieno
The County Government together with its partners today marked the annual world conceptive day to sensitize the community on the importance of birth control and family planning programs provided by health facilities in Kisumu.
This year’s event themed leaving no one behind: expanding sustainable access to contraceptives in the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond commemorated at Ojola sub-county hospital in Kisumu west was a call to increased individuals’ capacity to make choices for their reproductive health.
The celebration kicked off with a procession around the facility with the message that Contraception allows individuals to make informed decisions on family planning and also helps avoid unwanted pregnancies.
In a speech read by the Chief Guest, Dr. Stephen Gwer on behalf of the chief officer for health, Dr. Gregory Ganda, emphasized the need for family planning services and supplies thus elevated risk of unintended pregnancy.
Dr. Ganda noted the county’s commitment to invest in family planning to ensure access to the services and supplies.
The chief officer also called on expectant mothers to take the Covid vaccine noting that currently, the ministry of health recommends that pregnant mothers may now get the Covid vaccine and that there are more benefits from getting vaccinated during pregnancy.
On behalf of the County Director for Public health, Mr. Jermiah Ongwara emphasized the county’s flagship programs which included the digitization of the family health program and the Marwa health cover.
The county health reproduction coordinator, Ms. Jane Owuor stated that every woman and adolescent girl has the right to access contraception and family planning services, information and education. Ms. Owuor noted with concern the reduction in family planning uptake in Kisumu following the COVID -19 pandemic that had adversely affected the communities in Kisumu. However, she stated that the trend is slowly picking up due to a lot of interventions put in place by the county government and the partners in creating awareness.
The world contraceptive day brought together members of the community, community leadership, the area Member of County Assembly (MCA) Hon. Erick Agola and his counterpart, Hon. Rashid Miruka, Office of the county commissioner, sub-county representatives, the youths and the County Officials.
The Members of the county assembly recognized the efforts of the County Health Management Team (CHMT) in ensuring quality healthcare. The MCAs also announced that the assembly is currently working on the Facility Improvement Fund (FIF) bill that will also ensure the facilitation of the CHWs to improve service delivery.
The event also offered various services, including screening, covid and HPV vaccination, food and nutrition services, cancer screening, health information and promotion desk.
The day’s celebration was then crowned with dinner organized by KELIN for the CHMT and health stakeholders.
