Government is set to tackle high fertility rate by addressing the significant unmet need for contraceptive services and increasing access to family planning and reproductive health care services.
While giving a keynote address at a two-day demographic conference organized by the National Population Council, ICT minister, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi called on Members of Parliament (MPs) to advocate for lobbying for more financial support for family planning to reduce the burden on the development partners that meet the country’s most significant share of the contraceptive budget.
He says promoting family planning means safeguarding the freedom and rights of families to help them choose the number and timing of their children.
The minister noted that the country needs to make greater investments in reproductive health information and services to reduce unintended pregnancies, prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDs and other sexually transmitted infections, and help adolescents lead healthy and productive lives, which are vital elements of harnessing the demographic dividend.
