The Hindu : Other States / Orissa News : Giving women a larger say in the matter

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Saturday, Jun 30, 2007
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Giving women a larger say in the matter

Staff Reporter

Low-priced female condoms to be available across State

The condoms would be marketed at Rs. 5 and Rs. 2
51 p.c. of eligible couples of the State use contraceptives

BERHAMPUR: Female condoms would be marketed at Rs. 5 and Rs. 2 in south Orissa by Government health agencies within the next few months.

Measures to be taken to promote use of female condoms as an effective mean of contraception and protection against sexually transmitted diseases in rural areas was a major point of discussion at a workshop on contraceptive technology updates for medical professionals of south Orissa organised in the city on Friday.

High-price

Assistant district medical officers (ADMO) for family welfare, district public health nurses and gynaecologists from 10 districts of south Orissa participated in this workshop.

It was sponsored by the United Nations Population Fund and State Health and Family Welfare Department.

Although female condoms have already reached the market their price is too high for the rural populace. It is now marketed at Rs. 50 per packet.

Choice

D.Subhamalini, assistant professor of community medicines of MKCG medical college, who took part in this workshop as a resource person said female condom provides females a say over use of contraceptives.

It can increase contraceptive use in rural areas if it is easily available with females. As per the plans female condom packs would be sold at Rs.5 at Government medical centres.

It would be provided at Rs.2 per pack to the sex workers through non-governmental organisations. Discussions were held to chalk out plans to make women especially those living in rural areas conscious about this innovation in contraception.

Low use of contraceptives in Orissa was a worry for the experts attending the workshop. As per studies, 51 per cent of the eligible couples of the state practice contraception.

Motivational methods were also discussed to promote male sterilisation. It is still a taboo among males of the State although vasectomy is a less problematic process than tubectomy.

Sterilisation

In Orissa out of the total number of sterilisations conducted 79 per cent are done on females.

But the modern non-scalpel male sterilisation process involves easier surgical process; its healing is faster and involves very less post-operative complications in comparison to female sterilisation.

It was decided to motivate women so that they can coax their husbands to opt for vasectomy as permanent method of contraception.

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