Director of National Council for Population and Development (NCPD) in-charge of county advocacy Charles Isebe has urged leaders to join hands in advocating for family planning in the informal settlement regions.
Isebe said that with that, a sure way in reducing numerous cases of unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortion among many Kenyans will be greatly achieved.
According to Isebe, lack of adequate sensitisation on family planning has led to an alarming increase in maternal mortality not only among Slum dwellers, but also among the general public at large.
Speaking in Kisumu on Thursday, Isebe said that such deaths can only be reduced by encouraging family planning which he said has in the past been surrounded by myths and misconceptions.
He said that it is high time the public was enlightened the need of keeping a manageable family citing various advantages of family planning.
Isebe said that besides improving health matters, family planning helps in financial management since a smaller family can give room for the couple to make reliable investments.
Isebe also emphasised that the active adolescents should be introduced to family planning techniques saying that this will eliminate the issues of unwanted pregnancies which leads to higher incidents of unsafe abortions.
“Both the national and county governments should take measures of eliminating adolescent pregnancies by introducing them to family planning,’’ says Isebe.
He said that issues of unemployment can be tamed only by having a minimum citizen population and this is only possible through practicing healthy family planning according to National Council for Population and Development advice.