Kamal Nath govt's strict warning to health staff, says 'get at least one man for sterilisation or lose job'
In a bid to increase the involvement of men in its family planning programme, Kamal Nath led Congress government in Madhya Pradesh has given a warning to male multi-purpose health workers (MPHWs), who failed to mobilise even one man for sterilisation in 2019-20, that their salary would be held back and they would be compulsory retired.
Referring to the National Family Health Survey-4 report, which indicated that only 0.5 % men were plumping for sterilisation in the state, Madhya Pradesh’s National Health Mission (NHM) has appealed to top district officials and Chief Medical and Health Officers to single out male workers with “zero work output” and apply the “no work no pay” ethics, if thay do not record at least one case in the 2019-20 term that concludes next month.
The notice, issued by the state NHM, states that if the state of affairs dosen’t progress, proposals advocating compulsory retirement of MPHWs will be dispatched via District Collectors to the NHM headquarters in Bhopal from where they will be sent to the Health Directorate for action.
The notice mentions that all MPHWs should encourage at least five to ten “willing beneficiaries” when camps are held in districts.
The number of men plumping for sterilisation has been reducing in the state over the last few years. For 2019-20, the number was 3,397, as of February 20, 2020, in contrast to 3.34 lakh women. In 2015-16, the state coordinated 9,957 vasectomies. In the three following year, the figures were 7,270, 3,719 and 2,925 respectively.
As maintained by NHM Deputy Director Dr Pragya Tiwari, there was “almost no participation” of men in the family planning programme. “We are not saying you use coercive methods. We want them to strength advocacy. There are many who want to limit their family size but lack awareness. It’s their job. If you can’t motivate even one person in one full year it shows your work output. What’s the use of spending tax payers’ money on salary?’’ she said.
Dr Tiwari stated that unlike auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs), there was no keeping track of MPHWs untill she began “vigorous monitoring” after taking charge of the family planning programme last year. Those who do well are given an award under the “carrot and stick approach’’, she said.
According to the officials the decrease in male and female sterilisation figures commenced in 2015-16 when the court ordered against an insistent approach and the state government did away with targets.
Deputy Director (Maternal Health) Dr Archana Mishra stated male vasectomy was “very simple and yet few males come forward, especially in rural areas because they fear losing their masculinity or sex drive”. “Instead of sterilisation, the focus should be on spacing methods,’’ she said.
Indore CMHO Dr Praveen Jadia said “it’s for the first time that such a circular has been issued by the government”. “Indore’s total target was 22,500 and nearly 19,500 sterilisations have been done but the district is not likely to meet the vasectomy target of 2,250,” he said.
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