The County Government of Nakuru, a DSW’s partner county in Kenya, launched its family planning costed implementation plan for the next five years in a bid to improve family planning service delivery.
The Nakuru County Family Planning Costed Implementation Plan 2017 – 2021 is a five-year roadmap designed to help the County Government of Nakuru achieve its family planning goals and guide its investments in the sector. Goals that when achieved will save millions of lives and improve the health and well-being of women, families and communities.
Speaking about the costed implementation plan during the launch on Wednesday, 1st March 2017, the county executive committee member (minister) in charge of health in Nakuru, Dr. David Mungai, said increased access to, and use of, family planning has far-reaching benefits for families and Nakuru county.
Dr. Mungai said that Nakuru’s fertility rates have begun to decline and the county has the potential to benefit from the opportunity of the demographic dividend. The demographic dividend refers to faster economic growth due in part by changes in the population age structure that result in more working-age adults and fewer dependents.
Demographic dividend
“This population shift can contribute to both county development and improved well-being for families and communities. However, if we are to realize the demographic dividend, we must make substantial investments to improve health outcomes and meet the needs for family planning, while also educating and training workers, promoting new job opportunities for young people, and strengthening economic stability and governance,” Dr. Mungai added.
In Kenya, primary health service provision, which includes family planning, is budgeted for and implemented by the 47 county governments.
DSW’s family planning advocacy in Kenya
In collaboration with county governments and other partners, DSW is working to contribute to increased and improved funding for family planning by county governments. We work in 11 Kenyan counties: West Pokot, Kilifi, Laikipia, Meru, Mombasa, Nakuru, Nyandarua, Bungoma, Trans Nzoia, Nandi and Uasin Gishu.
In doing so, we aim to mobilise more and better funds from key European donors, as well as from East African governments where we work, to support family planning.
Peter Ngure, DSW Kenya’s National Team Coordinator for advocacy said the family planning costed implementation plan is a document that helps the county to project family planning needs, especially in terms of investment of human and financial resources.
“The family planning costed implementation plan helps the county evaluate its population growth and see whether it is manageable with the available resources. The plan also acts as a tool for the county to mobilize resources from various external sources in line with the strategic objectives,” said Mr. Ngure.
By Collins Baswony
