consideration and an honest discussion
with ourselves and with our partners. We
must ask ourselves complex and sensitive
questions, and answer them honestly.
Ask yourself: Am I ready to be a parent
now? What kind of life will I be able to offer
my child? And one of the most important
questions is; What am I doing to prevent
becoming a parent before I am ready?
In Bermuda, as in much of the developed
world, we are blessed to have good
access to affordable family planning.
Both counseling and contraceptives
are readily available in our community.
General practitioners (GP’s), gynecologists
and the clinics at the Department of Health
offer these services for the asking.
With all the methods available to us,
there are very few couples who cannot
plan for pregnancy and time parenthood
so that it suits their lifestyles.
Parenting is serious business, starting with sleepless nights but not ending with
turbulent adolescence. In addition to abundant love, good parenting requires
selfless devotion, maturity, organization and many resources. Needless to say,
assuring all this is in place takes planning.
BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT
CHERYL PEEK-BALL, MD, MPH
Dr. Cheryl Peek-Ball became the Senior Medical Officer for the Department of Health
in December 2009. Previously, she served the department as Medical Officer for
Maternal Health & Family Planning for 19 years, beginning in 1990. Dr. Peek-Ball is
originally from the United States where she received her medical and public health
education. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from Swarthmore College
(PA) in 1979, Medical Degree from Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson
University in Philadelphia in 1986, and Master of Public Health degree from the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2006.
Dr. Peek-Ball is married to Bermudian educator, Anthony Ball and they are the
parents of two adult daughters, Chloe and Kelsey Ball. She is also an active
member of the Baha’i Faith community.
Yet in Bermuda and the US, over 50 %
of all pregnancies are unplanned, and
the figure is even higher for younger
mothers: 80- 90% of all teen pregnancies
are unplanned and 60% of pregnancies in
women 20-25 years are unplanned. These
figures have not improved in the past two
decades despite the wide availability and
affordability of contraception. It appears,
therefore, that the problem is not access
to family planning methods but motivation
to use them.
What can be done to promote family
health through family planning? It will be
important for each of us to encourage
young people to consider the value of
postponing parenthood until they are
fully educated and employed; and just as
important, until they are in a committed
relationship that can provide a two-parent
household for a child.
As we try to solve the multitude of social
problems facing our community, it is timely
to reflect on the importance of family
planning in producing responsible, healthy
citizens.(www.TheNationalCampaign.org)
To maximize the chances of the very
best outcomes for our children we must
plan. The old adage, “failing to plan
means planning to fail”, applies in many
respects to parenthood. Ask any parent.
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