Wayne Marshall, new nationaal Family Planning spokesman, joins Leo O' Reggio (2nd left) and other directors of NFPB at Tuesday's launch of the campaign at Alhambra Inn in Kingston

Talented artiste and devoted father Wayne Marshall has 'stepped up to the plate' as the new pitchman for the National Family Planning Board.

The campaign, which was launched on Tuesday at a press conference held at Alhambra Inn, will utilise public service announcements, print ads and television programmes to get the messages out. The main messages for adolescents will include abstinence, safe sex, and planning wisely for the future. For older audiences, the message of safe sex will be promoted, as well as messages to assist in using contraceptive methods appropriate to their reproductive life cycle.

Along with recording the TV and radio Public Service Announcements for the campaign, Marshall will be undertaking special appearances and speaking engagements at NFPB events. With Wayne Marshall on the team, the NFPB feel that their message will impact a much larger audience and have a more lasting effect.

Leo O'Reggio, Communications Officer, National Family Planning Board said, "We are so happy to have Wayne's support. He jumped in wholeheartedly and has worked tirelessly, along with our teams at NFPB and PROComm to be able to launch this campaign."

The campaign for 2006/2007 aims to reinforce and promote a number of interventions related to responsible sexual behaviour and family planning.

According to Janet Davis, Director of Outreach National Family Planning Board, "The NFPB conducted its Reproductive Health Survey in 2002 and a number of gaps in the programme became obvious. The survey showed that while approximately 51 of every 100 Jamaican women are in the childbearing age group (15 - 49), only 69 % of women in union use some method of contraception. Also, while 46% see two children as the ideal family size, approximately 51% of women who already have two children desire more."

Mrs Davis elaborated that "based on our findings, it was necessary for us to implement this multimedia campaign which aims to re-establish the 2-children concept as the ideal family. The campaign also focuses on promoting safe sex, supporting the use of contraceptive measures for sexually active individuals and encouraging abstinence. Our target audience is young and we found it important to find a spokesperson who would be influential across both the teen and young adult markets."

Since emerging on the music scene in the early 90s, Marshall has consistently found his way to the upper reaches of the charts, scoring hits with tracks such as When The Smoke Clears, Marshal In Town, Okay and his latest, Astronaut.

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