By: Haruna Kuyateh
The Gambia Family Planning Association (GFPA) in the partnership with United Nation Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) had engaged the Regional and Local Authorities on the need for financing Family Planning activities and also to bolster Reproductive Health. The engagement was anchored in the Governor’s Office in Kerewan, North Bank Region.
Abas Cham, President of Gambia Family Planning Association (GFPA)reiterated the need to create public awareness among stakeholders and including local councils to enable them undertake projects that are related to family planning e.g. advocacy and campaigns for resource mobilization. He thanked volunteers for their support and collaboration in advancing family planning services.
Deputy Governor Dembo Samateh underscored the important of the convergence and noted that it would help to enlighten the public on the significant of family planning. He noted that the Governor’s Office recognized an important role of Gambia Family Planning Association in protection of women against sexual transmitted infection and practice proper birth spacing.
Momodou Njie, Acting Executive Director of Gambia Family Planning Association hailed UNFPA for their outstanding support in complementing government efforts of meeting women and girls to realize their sexual and reproductive health. He noted that family planning is a key national development component which should be given national priority, if we want to promote the health of women and children.
Director Njie said increasing the efficient and effective investment in family planning through public and private sectors in meeting the national goal of helping women and girls within the reproductive age. He uses the moment to recognized the important role of local councils and reiterated the need for council to design programs and policy to reduce unmet need for Family Planning must consider consumers out of pocket costs, programmatic cost effectiveness, and sources of funding. He noted that all benefits of family planning is empower women and girls in sphere of national development.
