236,000 to benefit of reproductive health project

Dalun (Northern Rregionb) 12 Feb '99 -

Dalun (Northern Rregionb) 12 Feb '99 - Amasachina, a self-help association in the Northern Region, today launched the second phase of its reproductive health care project, under which an estimated 236,000 people in 12 districts of the region are expected to benefit. The project's goal is to continue to provide accurate up-to-date information and education on reproductive health, family planning, nutrition, personal hygiene and child health to improve family health. This phase of the project, which is under the theme: "Mobilising Communities for Advanced Reproductive Health", is being sponsored by the Centre for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA) and Programmes for Appropriate Technologies in Health (PATH) in the United States. In the first phase, 105 community-based distributors (CBD) undertook 2,537 health education activities in the beneficiary communities of the 12 project districts. Amasachina board chairman, Alhaji W. W. Zakari, called on parents to be conscious of their capabilities in taking good care of the families they raise. He said it is irresponsible for parents to produce large numbers of children, who they leave to the care of society because they are unable to cater for them. Alhaji Zakari called on the community-based distributors to persuade the people to understand the purpose and advantages of the programme instead of imposing ideas on them. It is only through convincing messages that the desired results of bringing about improvement in family life can be attained, he said. Dr Elsie Taylor, a management consultant, in an evaluation of the project said it has shown that the use of visual materials in health talks has been useful and helped to reduce cases of malaria, cholera and diarrhoeal diseases. It has also enhanced the education of pregnant mothers.