Report of the Training Program of Natural Family Planning (NFP), held in Mariakhel Parish, Mianwali.

On the request of Fr. Willy Strekx,(Belgian Priest) National Family Life Commission of Pakistan decided to have a training program on Natural Family Planning with the couples of Mariakhel parish.

This training program was held from 3rd  to 5th February 2006. 14 couples and 8 women attended this program from the Mariakhel village. Welcome note was delivered by Babu Patras, followed by the theme "Philosophy of NFP- why it is in accordance with God's Plan for families" by Fr. Willy. In his talk, through the different biblical references, he focused the sanctity of marriage, the experience of chastity in marriage by abstinence in certain days as well as to discover the God's Plan for each marriage. He also focused the role of a Christian husband and a Christian wife  in marriage. Mrs. Amtul Wadood Nazli from Mansehra,  Mr. Pervez Roderick and Mrs. Catherine Roderick were the main resource persons of this training program. They are trained by Billings, Australia. Through different charts and transparencies they imparted their knowledge in a very simple way as most of the participants were totally illiterate. They also imparted that how a woman can monitor her reproductive health on day to day basis.

They taught following concepts in detail for two and half days:

1. Anatomy of female reproductive system

2. Understanding of basics of Billings Ovulation Method

3. How can a woman recognize her fertility and in-fertility in certain days of her menstrual cycle?

4. The rules to avoid and achieve pregnancy

5. Hormonal pattern and it role in fertility and in-fertility

6. Variation in menstrual cycle

7. Damage done by the use of contraceptives & advantages of NFP

8. How to make a chart of everyday signs and symptoms based on sensations

Like our last program at Boys Town, we the resource persons once again, unanimously felt that the use of proper and simple Urdu words is making this method simpler and understandable even for an average simple house wife. We all felt that we should disseminate this method in a very simple and appropriate manner and proof of this we received from the feedback different participants that they felt that teaching was simple and understandable. So the core of success lies in the using most simple words for any technicality of the Method. On the requests of participants (especially female participants) there was a sperate one hour session with women (with Nazli and Catherine) and men with (Pervez). Different questions/clarifications were asked from women side while in men's group Mr. Pervez stressed the need to cooperate with their partner and that how it is equally important for husband to know the method. There was a special session for follow-up strategy and we all felt to make some changes in our follow-up strategy. It was decided that couples will meet in group of 4 couples to discuss NFP on weekly basis, while women will discuss their charts. It was also decided that selective couples from Mariakel will be invited in next month program at Josephabad for further training. Same way some selective couples will be invited from Josephabad for another training at 36 Chak. So every training will produce some selective couples for further training and eventually, we will establish a group  of trainers from different parishes for final and advance training. In  this way we can have NFP Billings teachers in each parish. Couples were also asked to contact National Office in case of any problem in their own charting or while assessing charts of other women In their feedback, participants shared that they are very happy to know this method, first of all for their own knowledge and planning for their families as now they can plan the size of their own family. One impact of this training was that there were 3 couples whose wives are working as lady health visitors for family planning. After this training they mentioned that now they have another method to  present the couples of their area. National office assured each couple for their full support if any couple or participant needs their services. Fr. Willy on other hand also assured his full support for NFP in his parish. Next training program will be held in Josephabad in March The training program ended by the Holy Mass on 5th February by Fr. Willy

Pervez Roderick