adminThe Rhodesia Herald,
24 February 1974
IT’S World Population Year all over the globe this year, in case we hadn’t noticed . . . and why would we notice with our present galloping rate still the highest in Africa and one of the highest in the world?
Soon, in only 20 years, there will be three people around Rhodesia for every one today. But it is very unlikely that there will be enough land, jobs or “infrastructure” to cope with them.
Family spacing is the only answer although it is not catching on as well here as in other countries.
In Samoa, for instance, the Americans have hit on a telling example to teach the 30 000 indigenous inhabitants the perils of overcrowding their lovely Pacific island.
“You space your coconut trees: why not your children?” says a message.
Already, in a relatively short time, most Samoans are familiar with the symbol of a coconut tree and the slogan on T-shirts, car bumper stickers, posters and other mass media publicity.
According to the International Planned Parenthood News magazine the results of this campaign are very encouraging.
Most Samoans fully understand and appreciate the implications of the slogan, readily associate it with family planning and are in favour of child “spacing”.
Unfortunately, we don’t grow many coconuts in Rhodesia. But even mealies have to be spaced, fed and watered.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
Family planning is arguably one of the most important public health advancements in the last century, and it is defined as a couple’s ability to decide if and when to have children.
Community education and engagement are important for informing family planning projects.
Family planning decision-making is a complex process, involving knowledge and attitudes, personal preferences and religious and cultural beliefs.
The primary purpose of family planning is to ensure that couples arrive at informed decisions of the optimum number of children they can have, through contraception and other birth control methods. It is not an open door policy for abortion.
Family planning increases the responsibilities of individuals in planning their sexual behaviour, pregnancies and childbirth, thereby contributing positively to their holistic sexual and reproductive health.
The choice of using contraceptive methods helps individuals/couples reach the optimum family size and reduce unwanted pregnancies.
Planned Parenthood continues to be in the eye of the storm, since it is accused of leading many young women, especially women of colour into having abortions.
Online Reporter