Every third Wednesday to be observed as Male Sterilisation Day

After the glaringly low male sterilisation rate across the state, the health department has issued guidelines to provide an easy availability and develope public awareness on the issue.

Health department secretary and mission director of National Health Mission, Naveen Jain said that to encourage male sterilisation, every third Wednesday of a month, starting this month, will be observed as Male Sterilisation Day.

The condition of male sterilisation has been pitiable over the last few years. Against the estimated level of achievement of 3.50 lakh sterilisations during the last financial year, only 2,267 males and 2,28,586 women have been sterilised. In 2016-17, total sterilisations were 2,61,116 of which 3,308 were males and 2,57,808 females. The number of male sterilisation has been less in 2017-18 as compared to last year.

The additional/chief medical and health officer (family welfare) of the district has been directed to form a team of trained no-scalpel vasectomy (NSV) service providers available in the district, and accordingly, organise fixed day services (FDS) on the third Wednesday of every month. The action plan should be made after discussing with block chief medical officers, so that a considerable number of males turn up for sterilisation.

He said that it has been directed to make plans to inspire males for vasectomy and talk to medical in-charges, woman health workers and Accredited Social Health Activists to encourage males to come forward for sterilisation.

Even sarpanch of villages will be roped in for promoting male sterilisation. It has been clearly mentioned in the guidelines that beneficiaries have to be necessarily told that their sterilisation certificate will be given after three months.

Jain said that the number of male sterilisation has been very low in the state. Despite male sterilisation being safe, easy and less time consuming, the participation is less than 1.5%, he said.

“To increase the participation of male in family planning, every third Wednesday will be observed as Male Sterilisation Day with the catch line ‘pratek maah teesra budhvaar, purush nasbandivaar’ (third Wednesday of each month, male sterilisation day). Efforts will certainly bear fruits and percentage of male sterilisation will go up,” he added.