Vellore ranks second in family planning

Women continue to carry on the burden of the programme

April 24, 2015 10:31 am | Updated 10:31 am IST - VELLORE:

The numbers says it all. Efforts to promote family planning are paying off, with Vellore district improving its achievements in performing sterilisation procedures.

From its third position in the State during 2012-2013 for implementation of family planning programme, the district has moved a place ahead during 2013-2014 with over 22,000 procedures done. But the trend seems to continue. Like in other parts of the State, it is women who continue to carry ahead the family planning programmes, while men’s share is almost negligible.

Officials said the district has been doing well in family planning activities. A total of 21,203 persons underwent sterilisation in the district during 2012-2013 taking it to the third rank in the State with Kanyakumari and Ariyalur districts in the first and second places respectively.

It bettered its performance during 2013-2014 bagging the second rank in the State with 22,381 cases. Kancheepuram came first, while Nagapattinam stood third, K.G. Srithar, deputy director, medical services and family welfare, Vellore said.

Awards

This was not all. The Government Vellore Medical College Hospital (GVMCH) and Christian Medical College (CMC) Hospital too bagged awards for their achievements during the two periods.

The GVMCH received the third prize for 21 cases of no scalpel vasectomy in 2012-2013, and came second for 28 cases in 2013-2014.

In the private sector, CMC Hospital received the award for 2,810 cases (third rank) in 2012-2013 and 2,925 cases (second rank) in the subsequent period.The district family welfare officials received the awards from the Health Minister in Chennai last month. The district had a target of 23,000 cases for 2014-2015, for which compilation of data is under way. “We want to improve our work in the coming years. We have been creating awareness among the public, including those in rural areas, as part of our Information Education and Communication activities. We have engaged vehicles to visit villages and take the message forward,” Dr. Srithar said.

Interaction with workers

Family welfare officials also take part in talks and workshops in nursing colleges and interact with grass-root level staff in Primary Health Centres to highlight the importance of family planning measures.

With the number of men coming forward for no scalpel vasectomy low, Dr. Srithar said they have been continuously creating awareness among men on the advantages of the procedure. “We tell them that it is a scar-free procedure, they need not stay in the hospital and it does not affect their family life. We will continue to motivate men to volunteer for the procedure,” he added.

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