CBDs: Breaking Barriers to Provide Contraceptives to Women in Rural Gambia
Sarata Dibba CBDThe Gambia Family Planning Association (GFPA) and partners in their bid to make sure that women and adolescent youth have access to Family Planning Commodities and services deployed by Community-based distributors of Family Planning to Rural Gambia.
This medium visited Sarata Dibba, a community-based Distributor of Family Planning Commodities and services based in Baddibu Salikenni in the North Bank Region of the Gambia.
Speaking in an interview on Saturday 20th July 2024, Mrs. Sarata Dibba who was divorced by her first husband due to her passion and resilience to provide Family Planning Commodities and services to women and adolescent youth in Salikenni and surrounding villages said it gives her joy to serve women and help them plan their families better.
She said when she was divorced from her first husband due to her work as a community-based distributor of FP Commodities, God gave him another husband who is understanding and very supportive of her.
She said, before, women in her area find it very difficult to space their children and most of them get pregnant while breastfeeding another child. She said she started sensitizing women on their way to the Market, at the farm, during their weekly women's gatherings, naming ceremonies and at the clinic about the need for them to embrace Family Planning for healthier and more productive Families.
She said the women realize that giving birth every year while breastfeeding the other child takes a good toll on their health and that of the children.
She said women in her area are farmers, gardeners and traders so giving birth frequently leads to low productivity because there are certain chores and farm work they may not be able to do while taking care of the children.
She said the women have listened to her and they are coming for the Commodities and there is progress. She said some women will request the commodities immediately after giving birth as part of their postpartum journey called (postpartum family planning).
She added that most of the women settled for the three-month injectable while the rest went for the implants. She said most of the women now have one to two years of birth spacing between their children and they take that time to work on themselves and take part in Farming, horticulture and trade.
On the attitude of men on Family Planning Commodity intake, she said she has no issues with the men because sometimes, it is the men who come with their wives to demand the commodities and services. She said most of the young unmarried men also do come for the Condoms. Some women who also prefer condoms come for it on behalf of their men.
On the issue of Religious scholars in the community frowning at what she does, she said she has no issues with them and there was never a case where they frowned at her giving FP Commodities to women.
To address the unmet need for Family Planning Commodities and Services, The Gambia Family Planning Association (GFPA), The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Ministry of Health have deployed ways such as building adolescent youth-friendly centres and community-based distributors in the remote areas of the Gambia to make FP Services and Commodities available, affordable and accessible at free of charge.
Women, instead of going to the local pharmacies can go to government hospitals and clinics where they will be counselled and given a variety of FP Commodity choices to choose from with no charges attached.
Speaking in an interview on Saturday 20th July 2024, Mrs. Sarata Dibba who was divorced by her first husband due to her passion and resilience to provide Family Planning Commodities and services to women and adolescent youth in Salikenni and surrounding villages said it gives her joy to serve women and help them plan their families better.
She said when she was divorced from her first husband due to her work as a community-based distributor of FP Commodities, God gave him another husband who is understanding and very supportive of her.
She said, before, women in her area find it very difficult to space their children and most of them get pregnant while breastfeeding another child. She said she started sensitizing women on their way to the Market, at the farm, during their weekly women's gatherings, naming ceremonies and at the clinic about the need for them to embrace Family Planning for healthier and more productive Families.
She said the women realize that giving birth every year while breastfeeding the other child takes a good toll on their health and that of the children.
She said women in her area are farmers, gardeners and traders so giving birth frequently leads to low productivity because there are certain chores and farm work they may not be able to do while taking care of the children.
She said the women have listened to her and they are coming for the Commodities and there is progress. She said some women will request the commodities immediately after giving birth as part of their postpartum journey called (postpartum family planning).
She added that most of the women settled for the three-month injectable while the rest went for the implants. She said most of the women now have one to two years of birth spacing between their children and they take that time to work on themselves and take part in Farming, horticulture and trade.
On the attitude of men on Family Planning Commodity intake, she said she has no issues with the men because sometimes, it is the men who come with their wives to demand the commodities and services. She said most of the young unmarried men also do come for the Condoms. Some women who also prefer condoms come for it on behalf of their men.
On the issue of Religious scholars in the community frowning at what she does, she said she has no issues with them and there was never a case where they frowned at her giving FP Commodities to women.
To address the unmet need for Family Planning Commodities and Services, The Gambia Family Planning Association (GFPA), The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Ministry of Health have deployed ways such as building adolescent youth-friendly centres and community-based distributors in the remote areas of the Gambia to make FP Services and Commodities available, affordable and accessible at free of charge.
Women, instead of going to the local pharmacies can go to government hospitals and clinics where they will be counselled and given a variety of FP Commodity choices to choose from with no charges attached.
Author: Halimatou Ceesay
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