Mobile sterilisation vans would be launched in 11 more districts to check the rising graph of total fertility rate.
At 3.7, the state has recorded the highest total fertility rate (TFR) in the country that means an average woman in Bihar has 3.7 children compared to the national figure of 2.4.
At present, only one mobile sterilisation van in the state is working in Patna district since last November. Sterilisation drive on the van is carried out with the help of intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) — a type of device which is inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy for 5-10 years.
State Health Society deputy director (family planning) Subodh Jaiswal said: “Efforts are on to start the service before August 15 in Jamui, Saharsa, Purnea, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, East Champaran, Araria, Katihar, Kishanganj, Gaya and Khagaria. According to the state government’s Manav Vikas Mission, it wants to achieve total fertility rate of 2.1 by 2016-17. We would try to achieve this target by introducing mobile vans.”
According to the annual health survey of 2010-2011 conducted by the Registrar General of India, the TFR in Bihar is 3.7 followed by Uttar Pradesh (3.4), Rajasthan (3.1) and Madhya Pradesh (3).
So far as selection of 11 districts is concerned, Jaiswal added: “We are launching the service only in those districts where TFR is high. For example, the TFR of Saharsa and Sheohar is 4.5 and 4.7, respectively. While the mobile sterilisation van in Patna district was launched on private-public partnership, those in the 11 districts would be fully managed and funded by us.”
Sources in the health department said the rollout of the service would not be easy. “Still, very few women turn up for sterilisation at primary health centres. Many women admitted to our Asha workers that they do not want to opt for sterilisation through intrauterine contraceptive device as they feared it might cause them cancer and other diseases. Even at primary health centres, Asha workers have to struggle to convince women to undergo the process. They would need to counsel the women to go through the sterilisation process,” said a health department source.
Diabetes centres
The health department is planning to open 36 primary centres for diabetes care (PCDC) in 20 districts to provide free diabetes screening tests.
Apart from providing free tests like blood pressure, waist-hip-ratio and body mass index tests, these PCDCs would maintain their record through a software, which would help health department keep track of the cases and follow up accordingly.
The districts where PCDC would be opened are Patna, Bhojpur, Bhagalpur, Banka, Munger, Nalanda, Gaya, Nawada, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Samastipur, East Champaran, West Champaran, Sitamarhi, Purnea, Katihar, Araria, Rohtas and Kaimur.
