Posted: 02/02/2009
With India's population rapidly heading towards 1.2 billion and with the country annually contributing about 20% of worldwide births, the need to create awareness about family planning has become more urgent than ever.
Since its inception, Asha has advocated voluntary family planning methods and a woman's right to space her children. Our work has proved successful; in many of the slum areas where Asha works average family sizes have decreased from 8 to 4 members.
January 2009 marked a special "focus on family planning" month throughout Asha centres. Family planning clinics and workshops were held in each area with hundreds attending. At these sessions, women and men of eligible age were given information on the range of family planning measures available to them. Asha staff presented unbiased advice, not advocating any method over another. Oral contraceptives and condoms were given to those who wanted them, while those interested in using the copper T or DPV injections were referred to the Asha polyclinic for appointments. Couples who had reached their desired family size were given information on permanent contraceptive options, such as vasectomy, available free of charge from government hospitals.
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A women-only Family planning workshop
Additional sessions were also held for women only. These meetings were highly successful as the women were able to discuss personal issues relating to conception and contraception in a comfortable and confidential environment.
Asha also continued its campaign to educate older members of the community about the benefits and safety of modern contraceptive measures. This is an ongoing necessity due to the interference many young women experience from their mothers-in-law regarding their use of contraception and the right to space their children.
The January focus on family planning will continue into February, with more workshops planned for the coming weeks.
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20 years ago, Shanti Vihar was unrecognisable - so much disease, mud and rubbish, and tiny huts for homes. Asha taught us how to prevent disease, and introduced us to officials so we could make improvements. Now it's such a nice place to live, nobody believes how bad it once was!
Usha, Shanti Vihar
