Residents in Kicukiro District have been urged to implement family planning as one of the solutions to eradicate poverty in their society.

Kigali City vice Mayor in charge of social affairs, Jeanne d’Arc Gakuba, reminded the residents that family planning was part of the government programme of poverty reduction among families which they need to practice. This was at the closure of the family planning week on Tuesday in Kicukiro.

"It is useless to produce many children and finally fail to look after them. This forces children to become street beggars, which results into increase of poverty in the country,” she said.

The vice mayor in charge of social affairs in Kicukiro, Florence Kayiraba, lauded the residents for their contribution to the programme and urged those who are still lagging behind to follow suit.

"We are optimistic that no residents will fail to practice take part in the exercise,” she said.

Kayiraba cited some religious organisations which oppose the programme - even going as far as mobilising their followers not to practise family planning.

Some of the family planning methods taught included use of condoms, use of intra-uterine devices and beads. Residents were also advised to fight against sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/ Aids.

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