Nimba: Men beat spouses for taking up family planning
By Thomas Domah/Nimba County
About 50 girls and women in Electoral District Six, Nimba County have reportedly been hospitalized after they were allegedly flogged by their spouses for taking Family Planning or contraceptives.
Some of the victims, including mothers of four and six children explained that they were flogged as a result of visiting the only health center in Towah Town, the district headquarters to receive family planning.
 The mothers, some of whom are 20 to 28 years old with four to six children lamented that they are still being pressurized by their husbands to get pregnant and have more children.
According to them, they were in school at the level of 4th and 5th grades but dropped out of school when men proposed marriage to them, forcing them to leave their parents’ homes.
Some of the victims narrated that they visited the health center with the aim of getting family planning to help them reduce continuous pregnancy and space having children.
Emmanuel Harris, a motorcyclist said he flogged his spouse to prevent her from taking contraceptives so that she can continue getting pregnant.
Speaking to The  NEW DAWN at the Towah Town Health Center, the Officer-In-Charge, Korpo Greene, said the facility offers family planning prescriptions that are intended to help young girls and women know when and how to have children.
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However, she noted that the beating and threats from spouses have reduced the number of young girls and women from making use of the family planning programs being provided by the facility.
Meanwhile, O-I-C Greene has disclosed that villagers are misusing treated mosquito nets distributed in the district.
She said beneficiaries are using the nets for fishing and agricultural activities, instead of sleeping under it.
She disclosed that this situation in the district has led to an increase in Malaria, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), and HIV with about 20 to 30 persons already affected. Editing by Jonathan Browne
This is an event which occurred over a period not one day.
The writer need to be clear with the headline of this story. Are you saying 50 woman were beaten in one day time? Or you are reporting for a given period? In any of the case, the health workers also need to properly engage the community through health education and citizens involvement in health activities. The HFDC program can handle that.
What is the meaning of that?
How can this be prevented?
I’m okay with it
Good evening family, you know the issue of family planning is good but all party have to be involved with planning a family, but our heathcare workers are not providing the necessary counseling involving the services (FP).
A female will just walk in the facility and ask for FP and the service is provided without the involvement of the male partner. There is no way you can have a successful FP services without the involvement of both party, remember intimate partner violence will come about.
Always provide partner counseling before initiating FP services