With a commitment to reduce maternal deaths by preventing unintended pregnancy, Population Services International (PSI), a non-profit entity registered under the Societies Registration Act, and The Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI), have entered into a partnership for improving maternal health through long term family planning and safe abortions. The partnership was formally announced on October 24th, 2009 in New Delhi.
PSI in partnership with FOGSI has started an initiative for addressing family planning needs of the urban poor, in states with the highest population, poor indicators and high need, i.e. Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi. The PSI-FOGSI partnership is geared towards improving access to affordable and high quality IUD services, products and specialized counselling by obstetricians and gynaecologists for low and middle income population in these states.
Dr C N Purandare, president, FOGSI, said, “Family planning is helpful in saving women's and children's lives because it prevents untimely and unintended pregnancy, reduces women's exposure to the health risks of unsafe childbirth and abortion; and lessens the health risks associated with pregnancies that are early, closely spaced or very late. This partnership will provide a cost effective option for women in the target groups to access family planning services and counselling from highly skilled professionals. FOGSI is pleased to collaborate with PSI to leverage its network of doctors to provide timely interventions where it is required the most.”
India accounts for nearly 22 per cent of maternal deaths in the world. In India, 117,000 women die every year from complications arising out of pregnancy and childbirth. Many more suffer debilitating complications due to pregnancy and childbirth. Family planning is central to reduction of maternal mortality and ill health by reducing the number of pregnancies, unsafe abortions and high risk births. The third National Family Health Survey (NFHS III), 2005-‘06 reveal that nearly 21 per cent of all pregnancies are either unintended or mistimed. It also states that 13 per cent of currently married women want to postpone their next pregnancy or stop having children altogether but for whatever reason are not using contraception. In this scenario, it is vital that quality family planning services are made available to lower income groups in urban areas, who are largely underserved in terms of quality health care.
Speaking at the press conference Dr Jyoti Vajpayee, senior technical advisor, PSI said, “Interventions are required for the urban poor that focus on providing informed choice on family planning with a thrust on repositioning the Copper Intrauterine Contraceptive Device (IUCD) as a safe and effective option for family planning. Since many women like to avail family planning services from private providers, the potential of such providers located near areas where the urban poor reside, can be harnessed to address their unmet need for family planning. PSI in partnership with FOGSI will create a service delivery network to improve access to affordable and high quality IUCD services and products to low and middle income groups and complement family planning efforts of the government.”
Global evidence has long endorsed the IUCD (commonly known as Copper T) as a long term, highly effective and reversible contraceptive method. The WHO also recommends that most women can use the IUCD safely. The contraceptive effectiveness of the IUCD is very high and is comparable to that of male and female sterilization. As it is a long-term method (prevents pregnancy for three, five or 10 years, depending on the type of IUCD inserted), that is also reversible, the IUCD has the potential to satisfy family planning needs of women who want to end childbearing, as well as those who wish to postpone childbearing for some time.
PSI India, a non-profit, non-governmental organisation registered under the Indian Societies Act, started operations in 1988.
The Federation of Obstetric & Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI) is the prime organization with 208 societies and 24,800 members.