The performance of Baleswar district in birth control, despite mass awareness and other facilities, is quite dismal, registering even much below the State average.
This was mentioned by Deputy Manager, RCH (Reproductive child health), NHM, Elina Samal, during observation of the World Population Day on Thursday.
She mentioned that the sterilisation per cent of Baleswar district stands at 38.5 against the State’s 57.3, adding that the performance was extremely poor both of State as well as of the district in case of male sterilisation. To enhance awareness in the district from June 27 till July 10, several measures have been adopted including reaching out people with display of banners, leaflets, posters and hoardings both in urban as well as rural areas. Also, sterilisation would be conducted from July 11 till 24, she added. Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Dulalsen Jagdeo, besides expressing concern over the population explosion, said that India would overtake China in near future with the current pace of growth. The country would experience a stress with surge in population and limited natural resources, he added.
ADMO (Public health) Dr Paresh Chandra Nandi, Dr RK Baral and Dr SS Chaudhary mentioned the objectives of observation of such week and mentioned the available means for both tubectomy as well as vasectomy, respectively for women and men and other contraceptive measures for birth control.
The facilities for sterilisation and counselling were available in various CHCs and PHCs free of cost since family planning has become a human right, they said. Besides doctors, paramedics and health workers, all should come forward for the cause, voluntarily as the issue needs urgent and serious attention, the speakers opined in the meeting.
TB specialist Dr Girish Chandra Pati and several other health officials also deliberated on the issue.