Migori at 67 percent in contraceptive use

Sep 28, 2023 - 12:11

Migori County Governor’s spouse Anges Ochilo (in red dress) and Health champion and advocate, Caroline Wangamati (2nd R) marking the World Contraceptive Day at Suna West Sub County-Migori. (Photos by Geoffrey Makokha).

Migori

Thursday, September 28, 2023,

KNA by Geoffrey Makokha

Migori County women have been encouraged to utilize family planning methods to help them plan well their families.

Migori County Governor’s spouse Anges Ochilo said that the county statistics showed that only 67 percent of reproductive women in Migori were using contraceptives.

Mrs.Ochilo who spoke during the World Contraception Day at Suna West Sub County in Migori said that any pregnancies should be ‘wanted’ and not the so-called ‘unwanted pregnancies’ in establishing a better environment for the children and the future society.

She added that Migori was among the top counties with a high prevalence rate of teenage pregnancies with the cross border with Tanzania and the mining activities as the major contributors to pregnancies as a result of ready cash.

She urged women to seek contraceptive services to allow them to get babies that they can be able to take care of.

The governor’s spouse noted that the county will strive to increase the contraceptive intake from 67 to 80 percent to ensure the county has healthier babies and women.

She disclosed that with the help of local NGOs like Amref, Lwala Community Alliance and Beyond Zero Campaign the contraceptive intake was able to increase from 61 in 2021 to 69 percent in 2022.

Health champion and advocate Caroline Wangamati explained that contraceptives should not be seen only in the context of sex, but rather the generation that will be brought up.

Caroline, who is also spouse to the Former Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati, emphasized that the society needs a healthy generation that can take care of itself as well as provide a healthier workforce.

“Let men understand that family planning is not a denial of a family, but rather a helper to ensure women are in good health to bear healthier children,” she said.

Migori Chief Officer for Public Health Mabel Chanzu encouraged women to seek family planning services at their local dispensaries and Sub County Hospitals to enable them to plan their families well.

Chanzu said that it was only through proper family planning that would empower women to take care of their loved ones in a healthier and more enabling environment.

Courtesy; KNA