By Our Reporter 

The Government of Uganda has intensified efforts to improve access to family planning services by expanding the availability of commodities, strengthening community-based service delivery and introducing Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered digital tools to enhance access to information and healthcare.

Officials from the Ministry of Health say the initiative is aimed at improving maternal and child health, supporting informed family planning decisions and contributing to the country's broader socio-economic development goals under Vision 2040.

Speaking during a media engagement, Dr. Chris Ebong, Senior Medical Officer in the Department of Maternal and Child Health Services at the Ministry of Health, said family planning should be regarded as a national development priority rather than solely a health intervention.

According to Dr. Ebong, family planning enables individuals and couples to decide the number and spacing of their children, allowing families to adequately provide for their children while creating opportunities for women to participate more actively in education, employment and other productive activities.

He noted that the benefits of family planning extend beyond households and contribute to national development by improving health outcomes and promoting economic productivity.

Dr. Ebong emphasized that achieving Uganda's Vision 2040 targets will require the participation of all stakeholders, including government institutions, journalists, community leaders, development partners, men and women.

He urged the media to provide accurate and balanced information on family planning methods and services to help communities make informed choices.

The Ministry of Health is implementing several strategies to improve the availability of family planning commodities while reducing stock-outs across the country.

Dr. Ebong explained that family planning methods include natural, short-term, long-term and permanent options, allowing individuals to choose methods that best suit their reproductive needs.

He encouraged journalists and other stakeholders to accurately report on commodity availability by identifying specific methods that may be unavailable instead of suggesting that all family planning services are out of stock.

To strengthen supplies, the government is increasing investment in family planning commodities while working closely with development partners, including the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), to mobilize additional resources.

The Ministry is also expanding family planning services beyond hospitals and health centres by working with community health extension workers, pharmacies, clinics and selected drug shops.

According to Dr. Ebong, many people seeking family planning services are healthy and should be able to access services conveniently within their communities without spending long hours waiting at health facilities.

The initiative is expected to make family planning services more accessible, particularly for people with limited time or those living far from health facilities.

As part of efforts to modernize healthcare delivery, the Ministry of Health has introduced an AI-powered family planning chatbot to improve public access to information and services.

Daniel Aguma, Senior Pharmacist at the Ministry of Health, said the digital platform allows users to interact with a virtual assistant to receive information on family planning methods, locate nearby service providers and learn about available health services.

The AI platform also provides guidance on possible side effects associated with different family planning methods, including advice on managing minor side effects and when to seek medical attention.

Aguma said the innovation demonstrates how digital technology can improve access to healthcare information and may eventually be expanded to support other health programmes.

The Ministry says the growth of digital health services accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic when movement restrictions increased demand for remote healthcare services.

Today, digital platforms continue to support access to selected family planning commodities and health information, providing Ugandans with additional options for obtaining services conveniently.

The Ministry of Health has also encouraged greater public participation in family planning, emphasizing that the responsibility should be shared by both men and women.

Officials urged couples to make informed decisions together and called on journalists to continue providing accurate information that helps communities understand the range of family planning options available.

The government says expanding access to family planning services, strengthening community outreach and embracing digital innovations will improve household welfare, maternal and child health, women's economic participation and Uganda's long-term socio-economic development.