August 24, 2016 (WIC)- President Doctor Mulatu Teshome said that the Ethiopian Family Guidance Association has played a significant role to meet the Millennium Development Goals of the health sector guided by government’s policies.
The President, in his official welcoming speech at the 50th Golden Jubilee Celebration of the association held today, said that the association has been led by clear and efficient government policies and has contributed its share for the effort to meet the MDGs even before the allocated time.
The association has been playing a leading role towards filling the unmet needs of family planning and reproductive health services in the country as well, he added.
It was noted that the celebration will feature further commitment from its officials to meet the increasing public demand for family planning services. The president added that the government will strengthen its support so as to be more successful in the sector in the future.
President of the Association, Meaza Kitaw, said the association is now providing integrated sexual and reproductive health services including maternal and child health, family planning, screening and treatment.
Fifty years ago the association was established with three members and now has 18,000 members. Close to six million people have received reproductive health service only in 2015 alone, it was noted.
Meaza added that the national average family size has decreased from eight in 1990 to four currently, while contributing to the rise in life expectancy from 45 to 64 years.
The volunteer-based indigenous organization is celebrating its Golden Jubilee anniversary under the theme “Reproductive Health Services for Your Family’s Prosperity,” Walta learnt.