Thursday, September 29, 2005
Pullout of contraceptive supply to affect 17T couples
By Adrian Sedillo
DUMAGUETE City health consultant Erlinda Cabrera said the pullout of contraceptives supply of the United States Assistance for International Development (Usaid) in 2007 would affect some 17,000 couples in the city.
As of last year, Cabrera said Usaid has started slashing 25 percent of its supply to the city and by 2008 the trickle would completely stop. The Usaid supply includes pills, DMPA, condoms, and IUD.
But IUD, she said, would remain temporarily until it too would be phased out.
Cabrera said she has appealed to the city government to set aside money to buy the supply, but that the answer had been negative.
At the moment, she said, the city health office is beginning to feel the effects of the initial phase out with the continuing demands from family planning clients.
The health consultant feared the city's population could go up haywire unless the vacuum was filled.
She explained that her office is promoting both natural and artificial family planning methods, but is allowing couples to decide for themselves.
Cabrera noted that many couples prefer the artificial means but had no money to buy contraceptives.
The solution, Cabrera said, is for husbands to undergo the free, painless, and non-surgical vasectomy.
Cabrera assured that the method would not diminish the client's macho image.
(September 29, 2005 issue)
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