Addis Ababa, - more than 1.2 million people have become beneficiaries of family planning, reproductive health, voluntary HIV/AIDS counseling and testing (VCT) services made available at a cost of close to 23 million Birr, Family Guidance Association of Ethiopia (FGAE) said. 

Advocacy and Policy Advisor with FGAE, Adam Zeleke, said that the services were given from January 1 to June 30, 2008 in Tigray, Amhara, Oromia, SNNP, Somali and Harrari states as well as in Addis Ababa and Diredewa City Administrations. 

He said the services were given through the eight branch offices, 18 clinics, 28 youth centers, 740 social service delivery centers, 242 temporary service delivery centers, and in eight factories, among others.

Family Guidance Association of Ethiopia provided similar services to more than 4.5 million people by spending over 51.2 million Birr in 2007, it was learnt.

Source: walta INFO, 1 October 2008