Tarun Karthick
Campbell Bay, 25 November 2024
Vasectomy Fortnight, an annual initiative aimed at encouraging male participation in family planning, is being observed across the country, including in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, from November 21 to December 4, 2024. The event comes at a crucial time in India’s family planning history, as the country has achieved replacement-level fertility and now faces the challenge of increasing male participation in family planning.
This year’s theme, “Aaj Hi Shuruat Kare – Pati Patni Milkar Pariwar Niyojan Ki Baat Kare” (Start Today – Husband and Wife Together Discuss Family Planning), emphasises the importance of joint decision-making between partners. The Vasectomy Fortnight is being organised by the Directorate of Health Services, A&N Administration, in collaboration with the Union Territory Health Mission, A&N Islands.
The observance is divided into two phases:
– Mobilization Phase (November 21-27, 2024): This phase will focus on identifying and sensitising couples about male contraception, along with registering those interested in undergoing vasectomy.
– Service Delivery Phase (November 28-December 4, 2024): During this phase, healthcare facilities will offer male sterilisation services and distribute contraceptives.
The initiative aims to dispel myths surrounding vasectomy and promote methods such as male sterilisation and condom usage. While family planning remains a key priority for the Government of India, women still carry the primary burden of contraception. Vasectomy Fortnight seeks to shift this narrative and encourage men to take an active role in family planning.
The public has been urged to participate actively in the activities organised by the Health Department during this period, supporting the goal of greater male involvement in family planning.