Celebrating IVD via Child Spacing Awareness Creation in Aweil-South Sudan.
Written by IUNV Midwife Elizabeth Walumbe/UNFPA.
Having worked at Aweil State Hospital/Northern Bahr El Ghazal State of South Sudan for the past one year and above, the two International UN Volunteer Midwives Zeena Abdalla and Elizabeth Walumbe had noted with a lot of concern, the great gap in child spacing awareness and utilization of the available FP services. Hence, when the IVD day approached, the two midwives decided to take the lead and celebrate the day by creating awareness of Aweil communities to Child Spacing issues including the history, importance, local myths, available methods, among others. This was a big achievement as it marked the official launching of Child Spacing / Family planning in Northern Bahr El Ghazal State, by the Hospital Director, Dr. Garang Thomas Dhel in liaison with the State MOH Reproductive Health Officer Dominic Deng Tem.
A total of 165 pregnant women; one lactating mother and her infant; 10 men and 20 + ANC Clinic and hospital personnel (two being from MSF France) participated in the captivating celebrations.
Below were the available Child spacing/Family planning methods discussed and displayed
· Female and male condoms;
· Injectables-Depo Provera;
· Assorted oral pills (Combined oral pills, Progestin only pills and emergency pills);
· Implants (Norplant),
· intrauterine devices (Copper T 380A);
· Tubal ligation/vasectomy.
This achievement was made possible by the close liaison with Aweil state hospital administrators, State MOH especially the Office of the Director General, State Reproductive Health Officer, UNDP State Coordinator; UNMISS RRP–RCO; UNOCHA, WFP, the ANC Clinic clients and the entire clinic staff.
The spirit of volunteering must be applauded and encouraged as it played a great role in initiating and implementing the successful awareness creation.
