Population Services International (PSI), a non-profit entity 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 two organizations have commenced an initiative to address family planning needs of the urban poor, in states with the highest population, poor indicators and high need. These states are Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi. The PSI-FOGSI partnership is helping people to have access to affordable and high quality IUD services and counselling by obstetricians and gynaecologists for low income population in these states.

According to Dr C N Purandare, president, FOGSI, 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 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 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. The third National Family Health Survey (NFHS), 2005-‘06 reported that nearly 21 of all pregnancies are either unintended or mistimed. Around 13 per cent of currently married women wanting to postpone their next pregnancy or stop having children 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 under served in terms of quality healthcare, stated Dr Jyoti Vajpayee, senior technical advisor, PSI. Interventions are required for the urban poor that focus on providing informed choices 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 income groups and complement family planning efforts of the government,”Dr Vajpayee said.

Global evidence has long endorsed the IUCD or 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 high and is comparable to that of male and female sterilization, she added.