The Department of Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare on Monday launched a 15-day Family Planning Programme across Jharkhand on the occasion the World Population Day. Department Director Dr. Praveen Chandra said on the occasion at Doranda Civil Hospital that Jharkhand has done a great job in keeping the mortality rate well below the national average. But the State needed a lot to do in terms of overall family planning.
Chandra said, “National average of infant mortality is 39 according to 2014 data. But in Jharkhand, it is only 34. However, I believe that even a single infant mortality or maternal mortality also for that matter is not at all acceptable in any society. We will have to work rigorously to bring this average down to zero as soon as possible.”
Chandra also appreciated the works done by rural health advisors and workers including ASHA and ANM workers. He said, “An incentive has been fixed by government for motivators, mainly rural health workers, and beneficiaries for encouraging newly married couple to have a kid only after two years of marriage or keeping at least three years of interval between two kids. But most of the health workers are not well aware about it. During this fortnight, many informative and educative programmes for these workers will also be conducted.”
In-Charge of Family Planning Dr. MN lal said that it was a myth in society that family planning related surgery, minor or minor was not suitable in summers. “I must tell you that these are just like other surgeries.
Most of the family planning processes don’t require a surgical cut beyond one inch or little over that. I would request you to educate and motivate people to plan their family, for the sake of their own families,” lal said.
He also said that male participation in family processes have largely been missing due to a number of myths and lack of proper information. “Jharkhand is a state of 3.32 Crore people and we need to increase male participation in family planning as soon as possible,” lal added.
Civil Surgeon (Ranchi) Dr. Shiv Shanker said on the occasion that the district was conducting a number of programmes related to spread awareness of family planning. The guests present there also unveiled posters and slogans for the year for doctors, heath workers, families and other stakeholders working in the field of family planning in the state.