Odisha government launches free injectable contraceptives programme

Preparatory activities like the orientation of district teams and training of counsellors to roll out injectable contraceptive have been completed. Moreover, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is providing technical support in rolling out the injectables in the state.

The injectable contraceptive is supposed to be used within a week from the day a woman's menstrual cycle starts. Currently, injections are available for free at public health facilities. It may help reduce the maternal mortality rate and infant mortality rate in the state. It has to be taken once in every 3 months, officials said.

Providing more contraceptives choices is the fulcrum of the family planning programme. Evidence of contraceptive method mix has shown that with the addition of a single new method there is a linear increase of MCPR (Modern Contraceptive Prevalence Rate) by 3.4 per cent, they said.

Promoting informed choices and voluntary decision making among eligible clients has been the mainstay of family planning programme as per the mandate of Vision FP2020. Odisha government is undertaking several measures to adhere to this principle, officials said.