Women empowerment, girlchild education key to population growth

Women economic empowerment, girlchild education advancement programs and easy access of family planning services have been cited as part major steps to manage population growth in Africa.

This is according to the Population and Development Parliamentary and Policy Forum that aimed at sharing ideas on integrated policy implementation under the 9th African Population Policy conference.

Salima North West parliamentarian Enock Phale said there is need to develop women economic empowerment programs that will keep them out of their homes and engaged than just focusing on having more children.

Phale said: “We realize African countries’ population is increasing at a rapid state which is not that bad, but at the same time we want the population that is manageable and productive hence the need for such programs.”

On his part Uganda Member of Parliament for Obongi Constituency George Didi Bhoka said in his country measures are already in place that empower women and youth economically through wealth creation programs that provides capital to them.

“We also ensure provision and easy access of family planning services as Uganda has a health facility in every 5 kilometer adding their population growth has decreased from 5 to 3 percent,” he said.

Bhoka added that: “When a girl child is educated, she makes sound decisions on when to marry and how many children to have. This helps them to avoid early pregnancies hence controlling the population.”

The parliamentary forum is being conducted by Members of Parliament from Malawi, Cameroon, Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria.