In order to counter the strikingly low male sterilization rate in Rajasthan, the state health department has issued guidelines to render easy availability and awareness regarding the issue. The Health Department Secretary and Mission Director of National Health Mission Naveen Jain said that starting this month, every third Wednesday of each month will be observed as male sterilization day.
Considering the reports, the condition of male sterilization over the last few years has been quite worrisome. As per the estimated achievement of 3.50 Lakhs sterilization during the last financial year, only 2,267 males were sterilized against 2,28,586 females. Talking about the year 2016-17, the total sterilizations were 2,61,116 in which only 3,308 were males.
Comparing the last two years, the number of male sterilizations has gone down in the year 2017-18. Consequently, the Additional/Chief Medical and Health Officer (family welfare) has been instructed to form a team comprising a team of trained no-scalpel vasectomy (NSV) service providers available in the district. Accordingly, the fixed day services (FDS) will be organised on every third Wednesday of each month.
The strategy is to discuss the plan with the block chief medical officers, thereby ensuring that a considerable number of males turn up for the sterilization. The authorities will be trying to encourage the males for vasectomy and talks will be held with women health workers, medial in-charges, and Accredited Social Health Activists so as to motivate men to come forward and get themselves sterilized.
Besides, the village sarpanch will also be approached for promoting the issue. The beneficiaries have to be necessarily told that their certificates will be given three months after the sterilization.
Notably, the procedure for male sterilization is safe, simple and less time taking but the participation of males is less than 1.5%. Hopefully, the authorities will be able to encourage more and more men and the rate of male sterilization would go up.
