Tanzania's President John Magufuli has advised women in his country to stop taking birth control pills. He said reason was because Tanzania needed more people and country was now wealthy enough to feed and educate many children. President Magufuli said: "Women can now give up contraceptive methods." He supported his argument by citing example of European countries that he says are struggling to find enough workers because people use different methods of birth control. He told reporters: "I have traveled to Europe and I have seen effects of birth control. In some countries they are now struggling with declining population. They have no labor force."
President Magufuli accused those of using birth control of laziness. He said: "Those going for family planning are lazy. They are afraid they will not be able to feed their children. They do not want to work hard to feed large family and that is why they opt for birth control and end up with one or two children only." He added: "You have cattle. You are big farmers. You can feed your children. Why then resort to birth control? I see no reason to control births in Tanzania". One politician pointed out fact that Tanzania does not help large families. He said: "Our health insurance schemes can only accommodate maximum of four children from one family."
