Family planning sensitization takes pace in Simiyu region

The uptake of family planning methods was rated at 36 percent during the corresponding periods of 2022.

Briefing journalists on Monday in Bariadi district, Mary Makunja, Simiyu region Reproductive and Child Health Coordinator said that the adherence to family planning methods is steadily rising following the intervention of the USAID Afya Yangu-Reproductive, Material, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH project.

The USAID Afya Yangu-RMNCAH is a five-year project implemented between January 2022 and January 2027 in collaboration with the government at the tune of $66,835,592 (167.153bn/-).

"The project has really contributed a lot to changing the mindset of the majority of Sukuma tribe men who are sensitive to having many children," said Makunja.

She asserted that the adoption of family planning methods is of a promising trend that things will completely change in the few years to come.

"The majority of the men from the Sukuma tribe do believe that having many children contributes to having a guaranteed manpower for farming activities hence food security.

In that case, she said, the majority of the men don't care about observation of family planning methods.

On the other hand, women from the Sukuma tribe are even confident with their marriages when they have many children for their husbands.

"Women feel like they will lose their husbands to other women if they don't bare many children. In Simiyu region a married woman is likely to have an average of seven children," she said.

She revealed that for a Sukuma tribe man to have many children is more than a blessing that earns him pride and respect from the respective community.

Makunja said that the number of women who gives birth at the district hospital and health centers have reached 90 percent of the pregnant women attended during the period.

However, clinic attendance by pregnant women has reached 80 percent.

She said with the support from USAID her office has been able to sensitize 14 health care givers in the district on the importance of educating the public on family planning issues.

She said plans are to sensitize another 40 health care workers before the end of the year.

Makunja mentioned other family planning methods that male and female in Simiyu region have been following as oral contraceptive pills, implants and injectables.

The other methods are patches, vaginal rings, intra uterine devices, condoms, lactational amenorrhea, withdrawal and fertility awareness based methods.

John Sayi (47) a resident of Maswa district in Simiyu region and father of six voluntarily underwent sterilization in March this year and is happily enjoying his marriage.

"I had consulted my wife before I took this decision. She was okey with it. We needed to have a limited number of children so that we can comfortably raise them," said Sayi.

According to him, he had learned the beauty of having a limited number of children from his father.

His father passed away several years ago had only six children including himself.

Sayi said that he was once told by his father that he needed to have few children as him.

"My father had one time told me that he used to make local medicine for his four wives to take si that they don't conceive. He had four wives from whom he got only six children," said Sayi.

Sayi is a father of six children. He was blessed two children from his ex-wife and four from his current wife.