In a span of just 15 days, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) carried out 356 male sterilisation procedures in health centres across the city. This was way beyond the target of 240 procedures set by the State government for the fortnight, said BMC officials.
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From November 21 to December 4, which was observed as World Vasectomy Fortnight, civic officials carried out several awareness activities, including street plays. The aim was to promote non-scalpel vasectomy (NSV): a simple, suture-less procedure for male sterilisation that is otherwise not the topmost preference for family planning.
“Men should proactively undergo NSV to control the population. They should not push women for sterilisation instead,” said BMC’s executive health officer Padmaja Keskar.
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In NSV, the doctors clamp the tube carrying sperms from the testicles. The procedure is extremely minor, with no side effects. On the other hand, tubectomy, the sterilisation procedure for women, involves clamping of the fallopian tubes to prevent eggs from reaching the uterus. This is a major surgical procedure, and therefore medical experts say that men should be the ones to undergo the procedure.
“The kind of response we received was overwhelming. The procedure is so minor that the person can leave the health centre within two hours and get back to his daily chores. Only a few minor precautions are suggested,” said Dr. Keskar. She said that 114 men underwent the procedure in the first week of the drive, and 242 in the second week.
Drive extended
The campaign has been extended till December 23 following the good response. The highest number of procedures — 209 — were carried out at the health centre in F/South ward building in Parel. Health centres in Mahim carried out 28 procedures, Mulund 18, Oshiwara 14, and Bandra 12.
In 2017-18, so far, a total of 578 NSVs have been performed. Civic officials said that 424 NSVs were carried out in 2014-15, 810 in 2015-16 and 729 in 2016-17.