Vasectomy Fortnight is being observed on 21st Nov to 4th December

Bhubaneswar:21/11/17; Vasectomy Fortnight is being observed on 21st Nov to 4th Dec every year all across India. It is an event to raise awareness of vasectomy as a permanent solution to prevent unintended pregnancies and also as a way of promoting male engagement in family planning. In India, based on the experience from the overwhelming success of Vasectomy Fortnight last year and to emphasis on reviving male participation in family planning, it was decided to celebrate World Vasectomy Fortnight again this year at all blocks, districts and State headquarters level.

Observation of Vasectomy Fortnight -2017 in Odisha:

The State level observance of World Vasectomy Fortnight (21st Nov to 4th Dec 2017) held here today in the presence of Special Secretary to Government of Odisha, Health & Family Welfare department, Dr. Binod Mishra. Among others Director Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Sarat Chandra Sahu, Joint Director – Family Welfare, Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty, State Programme Coordinator, UNFPA Dr.Deepa Prasad also attended the ceremony.

This year World Vasectomy Day is being observed with launching of “Vasectomy Fortnight” or “Purush bandhyakaran pakhwada’” which contains two phases of Mobilization phase (21st to 27th Nov) and Service Delivery phase (28th Nov to 4th Dec). This year’s slogan is “ZimmedarPurushkiyehihaipehchan, ParivarNiyojanmein jo de yogdaan”

The Government of Odisha is focusing more on promoting spacing methods as a result of which there has been continuous decline in limiting methods since 2012-13 to 2016-17. However, the emphasis on male involvement in family planning programme in the state has witnessed a continuous increase in male sterilization (Vasectomy) from 1923 in the year 2012-13 to 2632 in the year 2016-17 as indicated in the table below. The proportion of vasectomy acceptors to that of the total sterilization has also increased from 1.4% in 2013-14 to 2.4% in the year 2016-17.

Population stabilization movement in Odisha was revitalized in the year 2010, and our state has significantly improved the family planning services delivery, both in quality and quantity since then. Along with these steps special focus is being given to promote male involvement in family planning. In order to take this initiative forward a number of measures have been taken by the Department of Health and Family Welfare, government of Odisha in the upcoming Vasectomy Fortnight. Few of them are:

Identification, sensitization and registration of desirous couples for male contraception by ANMs, ASHAs and other health workers

Awareness generation activities through peer networks, and other local NGOs

IEC/BCC activities through display, printing and transmission through electronic media

Mapping of facilities and preparation of calendar for service

Couple and individual counselling on basket of choices by frontline workers and facility staff.

Display of banners and posters illustrating celebration of Vasectomy Fortnight

Mobile publicity vans in all blocks to move from village to village spreading messages regarding the fortnight.