THE City Health Office (CHO) Population Division reported improvements in the economic status of Indigenous Communities (ICs) in Davao City who have availed themselves of the No Scalpel Vasectomy (NSV) program.
Dr. Laredo P. Rabang, NSV provider and District Health Officer at Tugbok District, shared that IC members began submitting applications around 2012-2013. The office focused on reaching Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and encouraging them to take advantage of the free NSV service.
“Daghan kaayo ang nag submit sa ilaha way back 2012, 2013, didto ta nag focus sa atoang mga IPs arun ma catch natu sila daghan-daghan ta ma serbisyohan didto (Many submitted their applications back in 2012, 2013, and we focused on our IPs to reach as many as possible and offer services),” he said during the ISpeak media forum on Thursday morning, November 28, 2024, at the Public Safety and Security Office (PSSO).
Rabang said that residents in remote areas, often with large families, can choose the family planning option of NSV if they do not plan to have more children. Services were offered in far-flung areas like Marilog District, Buda, Baganihan, and Tamugan.
He added that many IPs have seen improvements in their quality of life due to better family planning, with some who underwent NSV encouraging their relatives and neighbors to do the same. This has led to an increase in applicants for the service.
From January to the last Friday of October, around 110 clients received the service. This included two foreigners, 28 people outside Davao, and 80 from within the city. An additional 22 clients are expected to undergo the procedure on November 29, 2024.
The National Library of Medicine describes NSV as a modern method of sterilization that involves the ligation and excision of the vas deferens without incisions. It’s a safe and effective procedure with low complication rates and minimal aftercare. RGP