Invest in family planning commodities- Youths tell county government

Robbert Aseda, Network for Adolescent and Youth of Africa (NAYA) Activist at Bliss hotel recently

BY PETER KOMBE

Youths in Mombasa County want the county government to invest in family planning commodities as a way of managing rampant teenage pregnancy.

According to the youths the commodities are insufficient and cannot suffice the needs of young people.

Network for Adolescent and Youth of Africa NAYA planning monitoring and evaluation manager Dennis Otundo says most of the commodities are supplied by Kenya Medical Supplies Agency KEMSA which he claims takes too long to be disbursed.

“There is no enough commodities within the county. KEMSA distributes most of the commodities but unfortunately it takes quite a long time,” said Otundo.

The activist further said the county government does little effort in supplying FP commodities as compared to development partners.

Gaitano Muganda Dream Achievers Youth Organization sexual reproductive and health rights officer says there is need for the county to cushion youths in the implementation of budget and county policies.

He says as non-state actors they will continue pushing for the implementation of youth friendly services within the county.

“As human rights defenders, we shall not relent, but push for the implementation of YFS,” he noted.

The lobbyist recommends for the integration of YFS for easy access by the youths.

Speaking at another function in Timbwani Likoni sub county on Friday Abdallla Alfan a youth urged activists to conduct an intensive awareness campaign at the grassroots to educate youths on family planning.

He says most of the youths are ignorant about FP matters.

“Family planning education will assist young people,” he noted.

Alfan called on non-governmental bodies to educate men on family planning claiming that they are the perpetrators of the vice.

Earnest Matho, a religious leader from Likoni Sub County wants youth to be educated on the side effects of family planning commodities.

He asked youths to adhere to religious teachings to avoid immoral behaviors.

“Some of these commodities disappears within the body such as the coils,” the Muslim faithful said.

According to him, there is need for a multifaceted approach to minimize cases of early pregnancies.

Likoni chief Said Kandi cited single parenting and poverty as some of the reasons leading to escalated cases of teenage pregnancy.

He accused parents on claims of forfeiting their parental obligations.

“We need to protect our young people. Baadhi ya wazazi hawajukumiki kuna haja ya wao kutekeleza majukumu yao some of the parents are irresponsible there is need for them to actively play their role,” he said.

In 2016 /17 Mombasa County allocated a total of ksh 2,689,718,777 in the health sector, ksh3, 052,031 766 in 2017/ 18 while in 2018/19 the sector was allocated a total of ksh 2,923, 643,133.

In 2016/17 Family planning estimates stood at ksh 115,070,358. With the same estimates standing at ksh 85,807,394 in 2017/18 and ksh 102,564,557 in 2018/19.

According to Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2014, the total fertility rate in Mombasa County stood at 3.2 percent with teenage pregnancy standing at 16.6 per cent.

The absorption of women of reproductive age stood at 51 per cent with the survey indicating that women within the age bracket of 15 -24 engaged in premature sex.

According to another source, African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC) 2013 the contraceptive prevalence rate in was 43.6 per cent.