PROMOTING REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH/FAMILY PLANNING : Religious leaders pledge : Case of OUEME region in

Republic of BENIN

Presented by Rev César AHOUANTCHEDE Executive Director of the NGO Espoir de la Famille (Family Hope)

Tel : (229) 97 44 82 71/ 97 08 85 44

E mail : espoir_delafamille@yahoo.fr

Web : www.espoirdelafamille.org

OUTLINE

1- Introduction

2- Inventory of fixtures

3- Target of our work

4- Policies of Family hope to change religious leaders’ mind

5- Key results

6- lessons learnt

7-Conclusion

1- INTRODUCTION

Republic of Benin is a developing country situated in west Africa, its surface is 114, 763 Km2 with a population of 10, 321, 000 inhabitants

Republic of Benin has 12 regions .This presentation focus on the region of Oueme . Located in south east Benin

According to the demographic and Health survey report of Benin in 2013, Benin has high maternal mortality rate :397 per 100,000 live births, Neonatal mortality :23 per 100,000 Infant mortality :42 per 100,000 . The index of synthetic fertility is estimated at 5.7 children per woman in 2013, reflecting a high level of fertility

STATE OF THE PLACE AT THE BEGNING

The use of contraceptives in the country is low : 8.7 % in 2013 While the unmet need for Family Planning is estimated at 31% among women of reproductive age

Benin is committed to follow Ouagadougou conference

and Sally-Mbour to raise the contraceptive prevalence rate to 20% by 2018 against 8.7 % in 2013

Achieving this objective requires the contribution of all

social actors including faith based communities

Therefore the issues related to RH/FP encounter

great obstacles in churches. Almost all Christian leaders believe that the FP is an

affront to God's law which prescribes the human multiplication.

Therefore church is not equipped to inform and educate its followers on the proper care of their Reproductive Health/Family planning

So many officials continue to oppose the use of

contraceptive modern methods for the simple reason that it would constitute a contrary practice to the divine will.

While some couples / young people are desperately continuing having unwanted pregnancies, they are exposed to poverty and mortality.

TARGET OF OUR WORK

- Bishops - Apostles - Prophets - Pastors - women leaders and men

leaders in Churches - Adolescents / youth in

Churches

POLICIES OF FAMILY HOPE TO CHANGE RELIGIOUS LEADER’S MINDS

Realization of advocacy sessions for 90 religious leaders (Bishops, Apostles , prophets and reverends) for a Christian response for RH/FP promotion

Training of 231 peer educators (women leaders, men leaders and adolescents / young people in churches) to inform, educate and senzitize their peers on RH / FP and it benefits

Organization of 3600 informations, educations and sensitizations sessions by peer educators at the place of men and women of childbearing age and adolescents / Youth on the FP and it benefits

Production of monthly radio broadcasts in local languages on the RH / FP using biblical principles

Referencing of 12000 women willing to adopt FP modern

methods to health centers

KEY RESULTS

03 advocacy sessions for the benefit of 90 responsibles (Bishops,Apostles, Prophets, Reverends ) of the Association of Evangelical Churches of Benin, are conducted

A statement on the promotion of RH / FP toward church members was developed, harmonized and adopted by the participants

90 women leaders from 15 to 49 of age, are trained as peer educators, on the RH / FP and it benefits

58 men leaders from 24 to 49 years of age are trained as peer educators on RH / FP and it benefits

183 adolescents/ youth from 15 to 24 years of age are trained on Reproductive Health and STD / HIV / AIDS

Pastors on the basis of the statement, use at least

15 minutes during their sermons to inform,

educate and sensitize their witnesses on RH / FP

and it benefits, on the base of biblical principles

1589 educational sessions performed in churches on the

promotion of RH / FP and the fight against STD / HIV / AIDS

are conducted

12568 women from 15 to 49 years of age were sensitized in

churches

9742 men from 24 to 49 years of age were sensitized in

churches

6781 women from 15 to 49 years of age were referred to health centers for counselling and the adoption of modern FP methods

12 radio broadcast sessions in local languages were realised to inform educate and senzitize communities

About 60000 members of different communities were informed, educated on FP and it benefits on the radio

LESSONS LEARNT

No religious leaders are against family planning but it is the lack or shortage of information on FP which creats various reticences When religious leaders are well informed, they are involved in the sharing of the information

Education on RH/FP enable women to make decisions

in choosing and when to have a child.It helps prevent

unwanted pregnancies , maternal and neonatal

mortality

Advocacy is essential to raise awareness of religious

leaders on community health problems and breaking

the harmful religious barriers to FP

Implementation of the program has allowed many

couples and families to realize assets RH/FP based

for birth spacing and reducing poverty , and pledge

for hope

CONCLUSION

Faith-based organizations play a major role in the global health system

It is essential to build the capacity of religious leaders so that they are well lit, and play their role of guarantors of the health and social well being of their communities

MANY THANKS

FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION