Accra, Sept 28, GNA-A National Condom and
Lubricant Programming Strategy (NCLS), with the goal to improve access and use
of quality condoms and lubricants in the country has been launched in Accra.
Government through Ministry of Health (MOH) developed the National
Condom and Lubricant Programming Strategy, a five year strategy, spanning
between 2016-2020, together with Family Planning Costed Implementation Plan
(CIP), all in an effort to ensure quality sexual and reproductive health for
all Ghanaians.
The low use of both Male and female condoms
in Ghana, notwithstanding the dual purposes they serve in contraception and
prevention of sexually transmitted infections has mainly been attributed to
challenges with regard to the availability and accessibility of condoms as well
as misconceptions surrounding its use.
The use of the female condom is even lower
with inadequate knowledge on where it could be assessed and how it is used.
Dr Victor Bampoe, Deputy Minister of Health
who launched the two strategies, which also coincided with the launch of this
year’s Family Planning week celebrations in Accra, said the NCLS represents
Ghana’s commitment to comprehensive condom programming.
The UNFPA is funding the two strategy
documents that are required to support the decrease of HIV and STIs, increase
access to condoms and lubricants and foster a supportive social and political
environment for HIV and FP programming prevention in Ghana.
Dr Bampoe said the purpose of the NCLS is to ensuring that all sexually
active populations could be motivated to choose and use condoms and lubricants
when they need to and have access to good quality condoms.
“It is expected that the implementation of
this strategy as outlined in the HIV Costed Implementation Plan (HIV CIP) would
lead to an increase in access to and use of condoms and lubricants in Ghana and
ultimately contribute to the reduction of unplanned and unwanted pregnancies, the
incidence of HIV and other STIs”.
He expressed the hope that the information in the document would be as
beneficial to everyone associated with planning, management and decision making
associated with family planning and HIV/AIDS programming in Ghana.
Dr Bampoe further explained that government
in January this year, also initiated the development of the CIP which builds on
the key achievements, best practices and lessons learned of various
reproductive health and family planning strategies and plans implemented in
Ghana.
“The document is particularly
significant because it is the last five – year plan that will get us through
our final ‘sprint’ to the FP2020 goals,
and also because it constitutes a key component of our government’s improved
momentum to address equity, and access to reproductive , maternal, new-born and
child health services.”
The CIP focuses on six key
strategic priorities namely, commodity security, demand Creation, service
Delivery and Access, Policy and Enabling Environment, Financing, Stewardship, Management
and Accountability.
Dr. Patrick Aboagye of the National
Population Council (NPC) the two strategies are expected to help increase
contraceptive use from 22.2 per cent in 2014 to 29.7 per cent by 2020 and also
to increase the modern CPR amongst unmarried sexually active women from 31.7
per cent in 2014 to 40 percent by 2020.
GNA
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