Upper East records low family planning use

The Upper East Region records stagnating family planning practices despite free provision of services in six districts of the Region, Mr Daniel Syme, Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, has said.

He called for attention and efforts to increase dwindling acceptor rates of family Planning in the region.

Mr Syme made this known at a durbar in Binduri to climax the commemoration of Family Planning Week celebration.

He said the time when more children in a family was a pride was over and asked for men’s involvement in the practice and help to break the cultural barriers that prevented women from practicing family planning.

Dr Kojo Opare Larbi, Deputy Director in charge of Public health in the Region, said the acceptor rate increased from 24.3 per cent in 2011 to 31.4 in 2012 and in 2013 acceptor rate saw a stagnating performance of 31.3 per cent in 2013 while coverage in 2014 was 34 per cent meaning a marginal incremental rate.

He said the choice of the Binduri District for the commemoration could not be over stressed since it served as point of call to intensify education and appealed to the people of the region to increase patronage of family planning services provided by health staff.