US: Policy change benefits family planning

The Daily Nation Kenya
29 August 2009

After years of minimum funding to family planning and reproductive health services, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) recently announced a major increase in funds for family planning and reproductive health activities in Kenya.

According to a recent statement from the aid agency, the amount Kenya gets for family planning and reproductive health is set to almost double from Sh800 million two years ago to more than Sh1.4 billion, an increase of more than Sh600 million.

Family health service providers believe the increased funding will go a long way in sensitizing Kenyans on the importance of family planning.

The new funding supports Kenya's efforts to increase access to quality health care. The funds will be used to improve the health of women - both during and after their pregnancies - and expands USAID's three decades of family planning assistance to Kenya.

"This new funding represents President Obama's commitment to improving access to vital health services for millions of Kenyans," said Dr Scott Radloff, director of USAID's Office of Population and Reproductive Health.