Originally published in The Standard - for Fairness and Justice in Nairobi, Kenya as Oparanya:High population compromising quality of life on Wednesday, 2 February 2011. Thanks, also, to the Overseas Immigration News Centre for notifying us of this story. Originally published on The Standard - for Fairness and Justice in Nairobi, Kenya as Oparanya:High population compromising quality of life on Wednesday, 2 February 2011. Thanks, also, to the Overseas Immigration News Centre for notifying us of this story.
The Kenyan Government plans to re-introduce family planning, Wycliffe Oparanya, Planning Minister has said. After the vigorous family planning campaigns of the 1980s and 1990s with positive results, the drive petered off after making modest gains, he said.
By Luke Anami
Kenyan government recognises that overpopulation impoverishes country
The Government plans to re-introduce family planning to check quality of Kenya’s population, Wycliffe Oparanya, Planning Minister has said.
This rapid growth against a gross domestic product of 1.7 per cent per annum would inevitably exert a lot of pressure on the economy.
A population policy will also be reviewed to bring it into conformity with Vision 2030 and the new Constitution and in order to address the effects of high population growth rate. "Last years census indicated the population is growing at three per cent, a very high rate as compared with the current economic growth that is still at 3.2 per cent," Oparanya said.
The minister said 2009 census results showed 65 per cent of the population is below the age of 35 yet the overall population is just about 40 million.
At the current growth rate of three per cent per annum, the population is expected to hit more than 64 million by 2030, translating to a million more children every year.
"The rate of population growth has outstripped the creation of wealth which calls into review our population policies and strategies. The awareness programmes in the 1980s will thus be reintroduced in a move to strike a balance between population growth and the resource base," Oparanya added.
He said after the vigorous family planning campaigns of the 1980s and 1990s with positive results, the drive petered off after making modest gains. There is thus a need to review the census plans to ensure resources are adequately distributed to cater for development in the 47 created counties.
Census results
"In order to effectively manage planning and distribution of resources, we plan to review the population policy that was last reviewed in 1989.
A stake holder’s meeting last week recommended the formulation of a policy within the framework of Vision 2030," Oparanya explained.
Anthony Kilele, Director General of Kenya National Bureau of Statistics said the incorporation of a communication strategy in the dissemination of 2009 census results was crucial in achieving standard results, a feet that should be emulated in other development matters.
"The award is a recognition of what a communication can achieve in development agenda of the Government," Kilele said.
How the public will respond to this development is a subject of discussion.
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Mary (not verified)
Sat, 2011-02-05 17:45
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Millenium Development Goals neglected family planning
Since the Millenium Development Goals were drawn up in 2000, the world's population has expanded from six to 7 billion, 95 percent of whom were born in poorer countries. By 2050, the total is likely to be more than nine billion, according to UN estimates.
At current growth rates, Kenya is projected to be one of Africa’s most populous countries, surpassing 50 million by 2025. Kenya’s Division of Reproductive Health (DRH) and partners recently launched mass media campaign. “Plan for Yourself a Good Life” focused on changing beliefs and behaviors among peri-urban and rural young men and women ages 25-35, and promoting child spacing and informed choice of modern contraceptives. The U.S. development agency, USAID, has awarded the funds to an international non-profit organization affiliated with Johns Hopkins University.
The overriding factors for rejection and fear are widespread myths and misconceptions about family planning for women and men. A majority of the males indicated that family planning made a woman cold in bed, while many others elicited fears that vasectomy would render them unable to have sex. They held that this would harm their standing in society, as well as cause their spouses to look for other partners.
Health care givers cite the need to dispel such rumours in order to increase uptake of family planning methods.
Kenya needs a Sh5.6 billion investment to meet the shortage of family planning services, ironically partly blamed for the high population growth. When the Millennium Development Goals were adopted, there was not a single target on population or family planning access.
By 2050, the total is likely to be more than nine billion, according to UN estimates.
Periodic progress reports show that many countries are not making progress towards the goals. Continued population growth is a major challenge. The Roman Catholic Church, politically powerful throughout the continent, continues its opposition to birth control and family planning.
Emphasis added. - Editor
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