BHUBANESWAR: The State Government on Monday launched vasectomy fortnight to ensure male participation in improving the reproductive health of couples. The Health and Family Welfare Department has prepared a road map to create awareness on male sterilisation across the State.
Launching the programme, Special Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Department Biswabhusan Pattnayak said vasectomy, a minor surgical procedure, is the safest and most effective permanent birth control measure.
“The vasectomy method of family planning is being popularised by creating awareness to dispel the myth and misconception regarding this method for better acceptance in the community,’’ he said.
Male sterilisation plan is as old as the family planning programme in Odisha. Though the vasectomy percentage is minimal in comparison to female sterilisation throughout the State, there has been a steady incremental rise in the last five years.
The Health Department has planned for identification, sensitisation and registration of desirous couples for male contraception (condoms, vasectomy) by ANMs and Asha workers of each district.
While PRI members will be sensitised and involved in promoting uptake of vasectomy, campaign and communication champions, the acceptors of No-Scalpel Vasectomy (NSV) will be identified and their roles established for effective communication.
This apart, counselling of couples on their choices will be conducted by front line workers and facility staff. In-house counsellors will organise group counselling session to inform about various methods and celebration of vasectomy fortnight.
‘’Women self help groups (SHGs) and youth clubs will also be utilised for mobilising people from the villages. Mobile publicity vans having at least one satisfied vasectomy acceptor on it to convince eligible couples on the advantages of male sterilisation will be deployed at the block level to spread messages on family planning,’’ Pattnayak said.
Among others, Director of Family Welfare Dr Binod Kumar Mishra, Director of Health Services Dr Kailash Chandra Dash, Director of Nursing Dr Binod Bihari Mohapatra, Director of Public Health Dr Gyanendra Kumar Tripathy, Director of Capital Hospital Dr Basudev Patra and Joint Director of Health Dr Ajit Kumar Mohanty also spoke.