The
Gambia Family Planning recently trained over forty of its volunteers known as
Community Based Distributors (CBDs) on reproductive health care delivery. The
CBDs are responsible of the distribution of contraceptives and provide
counseling services on reproductive health in their communities. The three-day
forum held in Pakalinding LRR discussed modern contraceptive methods,
prevention of sexually transmitted infections and record keeping. It was
jointly organized by the GFPA and UNFPA. Participants drawn from Upper River
and West Coast Regions were also supplied with uniforms and contraceptives
worth over three hundred thousand dalasi.
Speaking
at the closing ceremony the Executive Director of GFPA Yankuba Dibba said the
health and general welfare of women and children is his institution’s top
priority. He described family planning as essential in ensuring the general
wellbeing of people and noted that the training is aimed at improving access to
contraceptives. Mr Dibba enjoined the CBD volunteers to be steadfast saying the
GFPA was established on voluntarism 39 years ago. He said the contraceptives
are meant to promote the reproductive health of women and stressed that any
complication they make cause should be reported to health facilities. The GFPA
Senior Program Officer Momodou Njie commended the CBDs for their selfless
service.
He
enjoined them to ensure that the contraceptives serve the intended purpose
citing the huge amount of money spent on them. Mr Njie thanked the UNFPA for
its continued support to his agency.
The
GFPA Youth Coordinator Kassamanding Touray said the organization is committed
to youth empowerment and urged adolescents to embrace family planning for a
better living. She however urged young people to remain chaste till they get
married. Speaking on behalf of the participants Fatoumatta Jabbie of Basse and
Saffiatou Jabbie of Galloya in WCR both lauded the initiative saying the
training has placed them on a better pedestal for quality reproductive health
care delivery.
