Responding to accusations at the on-going National Dialogue that religious sects are doing little to support the campaign, Sheikh Habimana Swaleh said Thursday that various programs have been introduced targeting Muslim families.
Available interpretations of the Islamic holly scriptures say Muslim men can marry as many as four wives – a practice the community argues is not common in Rwanda. Muslims are said to consider four women to be the most noble and pious.
In July, the Rwanda News Agency’s French tri-monthly newspaper Grands Lacs Hebdo uncovered correspondence from a senior Catholic clergy to health centres in his diocese urging people not to use artificial birth control methods.
Western Province Monsignor Jean Damascene Bimenyimana demanded that his followers use only “natural methods” – in reference to abstinence – even among married couples, as opposed to condoms, pills or injections.
Figures presented Thursday showed that fertility in Rwanda moved from 6.1 down to 5.5 – meaning mothers in Rwanda are giving birth to as many as 5 children. The Prime Minister Bernard Makuza said this figure is “not good at all” considering the strain the population could have on any economic gains.
According to government and UN assessments, growth rates are 2.5 per cent – with indications the country’s population could double by 2020.
But Sheikh Habimana rejected the claims that the Muslims have undermined any efforts to have people giving few births. The nationwide family planning campaign was launched this week. Upcountry commuter buses are posted with messages encouraging small families. Officials are also allover the media talking about population.
There have been suggestions in parliament and across the political divide that family size should be limited at 3 kids – which some politicians want to be made law. However, government is keen not impose family limits – preferring vigorous sensitization for people themselves to make the choices.
The Ministry of Health said last week that 27% of the population is using the different birth control methods available.
On Friday, local administrative official released figures of men that have opted for vasectomy and women on different methods.