Uíge — At least 169 families joined the family planning programme in December, 2008, at maternal and infantile centre of northern Uige province, informed Tuesday the institution's chief, Rosa Laurindo António.

According to Rosa Laurindo António, the number has increased to 11,853 families who sought family planning at the centre last year.

She noted that from January to the first fortnight of December, the centre also assisted 17,394 children in the areas of paediatric and 17,693 pregnant women.

Also some 16, 694 children were vaccinated in the same period against poliomyelitis, measles, tetanus, BCG, among others, stressed the official.