By Olimatou Coker
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in The Gambia in collaboration with partners on Thursday commenced a 12-day # I am for zero campaign which seeks to promote the realisation of unmet need for family planning in URR, CRR and NBR regions.
Women with unmet need are those who are fecund and sexually active but are not using any method of contraception, and report not wanting any more children or wanting to delay the next child.
The campaign, under the theme #I am for Zero, seeks to promote the UN agency’s three transformative results: zero unmet need for family planning; zero preventable maternal death; and zero gender-based violence and harmful practices. The campaign will also introduce new activities such as school outreaches on menstrual health and hygiene management, out-of-school sensitisations on gender-based violence among others.
Fatoumatta Suso, A Grade 11 student of Sabi Upper and Senior Secondary School, said the lessons on family planning, menstruation and reproductive health was educative.
“I I have seen a lot today and learned a lot. It will be useful to me and my fellow students here,” she added.
Fatoumatta Ceesay, another student said: “Today I have learned a lot about my menstrual cycle. Before, I didn’t know much about it but through the help of UNFPA and partners I have now learned from this session. I now have knowledge on personal hygiene, rape, FGM/C and others.
Teacher Kaddy M Camara said the session will have a “great impact” on the lives of her students especially the girls.
She thanked the UNFPA delegation and appealed for more of the same programmes.
Fatimah Jarju, a program assistant at Think Young Women, was among the speakers.
