Religious leaders want family planning to be directed to youths

The Uganda Muslim supreme council calls on stakeholders in the health sector to target family planning services to the youth since..

The Uganda Muslim supreme council calls on stakeholders in the health sector to target family planning services to the youth since they are more sexually active and potential victims of early pregnancy.  While launching the family planning costed implementation plan for Iganga district,the 2nd deputy Mufti Uganda Muslim council Sheik Waiswa Muhammed Ali said that although as religious leaders do not encourage sex before marriage but the youth confront challenges unwillingly and it's the reason why they need knowledge on family planning in order to over come them.  "Despite the high fertility rate, the use of contraceptives in Iganga is 35 % compared to the national target of 50%" The family planning costed implementation plan is a commitment made by the leaders of the district to make a clear allocation and mobilization of funds for family planning services. The initiative was developed by faith for family health initiative an NGO advocates for better health through faith in order to increase the funding for family planning services in the country , especially in districts with high fertility rates but with high levels of poverty  Speaking at the same function, the Chairperson of health committee of parliament Dr Micheal Bukenya asked the district council to scrutinize the sexual reproductive health policy recently developed by the ministry of health so that they can make bye-laws and ordinances to address issues such as early marriages and teenage pregnancies.  According to the assistant district health officer Iganga Baluka Anne Mary Iganga has 6-5% fertility rate compared to 5.4 % national fertility rate ,saying there is need to control it.