Planning minister Wycliffe Oparanya gives China’s vice minister, Ms Gui Li, and other dignitaries gifts at the re-launch of family planning campaign in Nairobi yesterday. Diana Ngila
The National Council for Population and Development (NCPD) has launched a five-year strategic plan expected to cost it about Sh1.6 billion by 2015.
The move coincided with the family planning campaign dubbed ‘Jipange’, which was also unveiled Tuesday.
One of the goals set out in the strategic plan is increasing the use of contraceptives among women from the current 46 per cent to 56 per cent. “The launch of this document signifies the re-launch and commencement of the campaign that hopes to ensure that family planning becomes a norm at both household and individual level,” said Planning minister Wycliffe Oparanya.
At the same time, the organisation unveiled its new logo , hoping to increase visibility in step with the campaign.
Other than re-branding, the strategic plan outlines programmes on the use of mass media and their websites to promote the cause.
The plan also seeks political support and having behaviour change role models in schools.
The campaign also intends to lower the population growth rate that has remained at 2.9 per cent for the past two decades down to 2.1 per cent annually, the global average. Experts have warned that the runaway population increase was fast outpacing the resources available and was retarding development. Family planning is the missing link towards achieving Vision 2030,” said Mr Oparanya. The council has been receiving government support to fulfil its mandate, with extra funding coming from donors such as USAid and UNSPA. For the campaign, the organisation has received Sh523 million from the Ministry of Health.
This is almost the entire Sh580 million budgetary allocation for the ministry to fund its family planning activities this financial year.
However, the organisation says that it needs more funds given that the campaign will cost it close to Sh3 billion. “Donor funding is not usually guaranteed and given the enhanced campaign we intend to undertake, it would become necessary for government to increase funding,” said Chepsiror Kimeli, the NCPD director for corporate affairs.
To fund such renewed efforts, one of the options government would have is to tap into the World Health Organisation’s Global Fund. The fund spends about Sh2 trillion annually to combat malaria, HIV/Aids and tuberculosis, but has in the recent past taken to funding governments’ efforts in tackling reproductive health issues.
