IF FIGURES were facts, the family planning programme in the State would be going nowhere. Though, the State received a record number of condoms and Copper-Ts, it failed to distribute them timely, affecting the family-planing programme.
Sources said the State had received 1331.02 lakh condoms from the Centre in 2001-02, but it could distribute only 1203.66 lakh. In 2002-03, the number of undistributed condoms went up further to 587.12 lakh and in 2003-04 and 2004-05, the unused quantity was at 239.51 lakh and 220.37 lakh, respectively.
The story of unused Copper -Ts is no different. The figure stood at 11.07 lakh in 2002-03, 9.41 lakh in 2003-04 and 6.28 lakh in 2004-05.
These figures show how the State Government is serious about the family-planning prograame in the State..
Principal secretary (Family Welfare) PK Mishra, while speaking at the consultative workshop on health, nutrition and medical and education, said the supplied condoms and Copper-T did not reach the right people. He also pointed out that lack of staff was also a reason for improper distribution of condoms and Copper-Ts.
“The number of doctors in the PMS is less than the required posts and the infrastructure at health centres is also not good. If asked to work in such conditions, family-planning workers submit bogus data and the result is before us,” Mishra said.
{{/usCountry}}“The number of doctors in the PMS is less than the required posts and the infrastructure at health centres is also not good. If asked to work in such conditions, family-planning workers submit bogus data and the result is before us,” Mishra said.
{{/usCountry}}He said the appointment of auxillaries, nurses and midwives (ANMs) was done in the State on the basis of the 1991 census, but the population was increasing at 2.3 per cent annually, he said.
“Keeping the ratio of population growth and staff strength, we have placed a demand for fresh appointments of ANMs and a note has already been sent to the Cabinet for approval,” Mishra said. He further said that an ANM would be appointed at every sub-centre. As per the data of the four years, 227.56 lakh oral pills have been dumped in the State Directorate,as they could not be distributed to the people. Every year, a big stock of vaccines are dumped as closing balance. These become part of the carry-forward stock for next year.