Patna: The health department has started installing condom boxes at primary health centres (PHC), additional PHC, health sub-centres and other government health facilities. The boxes will be installed in a fashion so that people don't feel shy while taking out condoms. Besides, people won't have to shell out any money for the condoms.

The health department's move to install condom boxes at government hospitals is important in the sense that a recently released Sample Registration Survey (SRS) points 0.1 per cent increase in the total fertility rate. The total fertility rate has increased from 3.2 to 3.3 which mean an average woman in Bihar has 3.3 children.

"As per the health department's plan, the condom boxes have to be installed in all government health facilities from top to bottom in 37 districts, including at primary health centre, additional PHC, health sub-centre, district hospitals, medical college hospitals except Patna as all other 37 districts happen to be high-fertility districts. Condom boxes has been installed in 15 districts, including Bhagalpur, Katihar, Jehanabad, Kishanganj, Madhubani, Nalanda, Purnea, Saharsa, Sheikhpura and others," said programme officer of State Health Society Mohammad Sajjad Ahmad.

Talking about how the condom boxes were being installed at the government health facilities, Sajjad said: "The condom boxes are installed at places so that it doesn't easily attract other people's attention easily. We are getting it installed mainly near the washroom of the government health facility so that anybody can avoid getting any attention while taking out condoms from the box. Each condom box has a capacity of around 54 condom packets but as per norm, the boxes would be refilled as soon as condoms are exhausted in the box."

While two condom boxes have to be installed at the primary health centre, three boxes have to be installed at district hospitals while one box has to be installed at the additional PHC and health sub-centres, five boxes are supposed to be installed at the medical college hospitals.

"Right, now the work of installation of the boxes at PHC, additional PHC, health sub-centre and district hospitals is going on. Boxes will be installed at medical college hospitals as well," added Sajjad.

Health department sources said it was not that condoms were not available earlier at the government health facilities. Condoms were available at government health facilities under the family planning programme but people who needed it were supposed to collect it from specific counters at the health facilities but the programme was not very successful as people used to feel shy to collect the condoms from the counters.

Asha workers were also engaged in the condom distribution programme as they were supposed to deliver the condoms at the doorstep of people at the remuneration of Rs 1. However, it was tough for Asha workers to convince a man to use condoms. "So we hope to get better response from the condom boxes," said a health department official.

The health department is taking a slew of measures to bring down population growth. It is soon going to organise Saas-Bahu Sammelan in the 37 high-fertility districts with the help of auxiliary nurse midwives (ANM) while Asha and Aanganwadi workers would support ANMs in conducting the programme.

ANMs have been asked to bring together 10 pairs of mother-in-laws and daughter-in-laws in the conference and acquaint them about family planning measures and motivate them to implement the measures in their families. The ANMs would also been given funds to give little gifts to the Saas-Bahu jodi so as to give them motivation for the same.

"We are taking this initiative under National Health Mission. Anybody coming at the government health facility can avail condom from the boxes. They don't require to give money or take permission from any body," said executive director of State Health Society Lokesh Kumar Singh.