The Gambia
Family Planning Association (GFPA) on Saturday held a two-day orientation for
youth on family planning methods, teenage pregnancy and safer sex at the New
World for Youth Center in Bundung.
The aim of the convergence was to contribute towards the increase of family planning uptake and reduction in teenage pregnancy.
The orientation, which brought together 125 young people, was sponsored by the UNFPA through the GFPA.
Speaking on the occasion, Gassamanding Touray, youth coordinator of New World for Youth Centre, said their main objectives are to reduce the rate of teenage pregnancy and to increase contraceptive prevalence rate.
She said they also want to increase community access to evidence-based and informed programmes to prevent maternal mortality.
“We want to increase awareness on the available family planning services and their advantages, increase linkages between teenage pregnancy prevention programmes and community-based clinical services,” she said.
She added that they also want to encourage male involvement for an improved contraceptive uptake and educate stakeholders about relevant evidence-based and evidence-informed strategies to reduce teenage pregnancy and data on needs and resources in target communities.
The youth, she noted, play a very important role in disseminating SRH information to the masses, who need to be enlightened to make their work easier.
For his part, Baboucarr Penn, chairperson of KM YAM, said the orientation was very important for them as youth advocates.
They do embark on community sensitization campaigns on teenage pregnancy and related issues as it is very important for them to refresh their minds from time to time to help them deliver well during such activities, he said.
Contraception is very important in controlling teenage pregnancy and reducing its risks, he also stated, while thanking the UNFPA for sponsoring the orientation.
