Faith Ndou
The Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) in Masvingo has trained new Community Based Distributors (CBDs) to improve family planning services and access to contraceptives in hard-to-reach communities across the province.
The initiative is part of efforts by ZNFPC to align with the national development mantra of leaving no place and no one behind.
The 10-day training programme which started last month equipped participants with knowledge and skills to provide family planning information and basic contraceptive services at community level.
According to ZNFPC Masvingo Marketing and Communications Officer Beautrice Hlilokela, the recruitment of CBDs from marginalised and remote communities aims to bridge the gap between communities and health facilities.
“Community distributors play a crucial role in disseminating information and addressing misconceptions surrounding family planning, sexual and reproductive health and other health services,” she said.
Hlilokela also emphasised the importance of inclusivity and the need to involve men in reproductive health programmes from the grassroots level.
“CBDs are important in disseminating information and enabling people to make informed decisions about their reproductive health,” she added.
The training programme included nine participants, comprising seven CBDs and two supervisors.
This brings the total number of CBDs in Masvingo Province to 50 including 46 community distributors and four substantive supervisors.
District representation of the newly trained CBDs includes one from Zaka, one from Chivi, two from Mwenezi, two from Masvingo, two from Gutu and one from Bikita while Chiredzi had no participants in the latest training.
ZNFPC said the initiative is expected to help reduce the unmet need for family planning services in rural communities by ensuring that information and contraceptive services are available closer to the people.
