National Events

Owing to the recent programmatic and technical developments in the IUCD program and in the behest of keeping the techno-managerial reference material up to date, a Technical Resource Group (TRG) meeting for revising the ‘Reference Manual on IUCD’ was held on 15th Jan 2018 at The Lalit Hotel, New Delhi by the Family Planning Division, Government of India, with the support from National Technical Support Unit for Family Planning (NTSU-FP). The meeting saw the participation of 27 leading gynecologists and area experts from across the country to deliberate on the contents of the manual and build consensus on the same.

Continuing with last year’s efforts a national workshop on the promotion of male participation in family planning was organised on 16th November 2017, in New Delhi under the chairmanship of Ms.Vandana Gurnani, Joint Secretary (RCH, MoHFW).

The workshop was a precursor and curtain raiser to the upcoming Vasectomy Fortnight observed across the country from 21st November to 4th December 2017.

The theme of the workshop ‘Zimmedaar Purush ki Yehi hai Pehchaan, Parivar Niyojan mein jo de Yogdan' was in alignment with the theme of the Vasectomy Fortnight. Discussions during the workshop revolved around topics such efforts to bolster male involvement, engaging with young men, bridging gender gap and addressing SRH needs of adolescents.

The workshop also saw the launch of the Family Planning Logistics Management Information System (FP-LMIS) manual. The FP-LMIS software was developed to facilitate the management and distribution of contraceptives and is designed to provide robust information on the demand and distribution of contraceptives to health facilities and ASHAs and strengthen supply chain management.

In efforts to streamline logistics and supply chain management system for family planning commodities in the country, in July 2017, Government of India launched the ‘Family Planning Logistics Management Information System (FP-LMIS)’, a unified software developed to facilitate government in tracking and monitoring family planning commodities down to the last mile (from the National level to ASHA level).

The launch was followed by the government organizing a National Level Training of Trainers (ToT) on FP-LMIS from 25th July to 1st August, 2017 at the Center for Development and Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Noida, with active participation of state level officials, FP consultants, store in-charge and representatives from the development partners.

This event was followed by the government organizing a second national TOT on FP-LMIS for SSM Division (Procurement Division, GoI) Government Medical Store Depots (GMSDs) and suppliers on 28th August 2017 at New Delhi

Celebrated every year on 11th July, the World Population Day 2017 was a special event in many ways. Themed “Family Planning – Empowering People, Developing Nations”, the event was graced with the presence and mentorship of Shri. J P Nadda, Honorable Minister of Health and Family Welfare. The highlight of this year’s event were four key launches made – i.e unveiling the Mission Parivar Vikas strategy with the unveiling of State MPV Factsheets, launch of Injectable Contraceptives, MPA (under government’s Antara programme), launch of the Family Planning Logistics Management Information Systems (FP-LMIS - a new software designed to provide robust information on the demand and distribution of contraceptives, down to the last mile i.e. ASHA level) and launch of the Phase 2 of the Family Planning New Media Campaign.

Also present at the event were Smt. Anupriya Patel, Minister of State, Shri R.K.Vats, Additional Secretary & Director General, Smt. Vandana Gurnani, Joint Secretary, Reproductive Child Health Care and Smt. Preeti Nath, Executive Director, Jansankhya Sthirata Kosh along with other senior officers of the Ministry and representatives of development partners.

In line with government’s priorities, to develop a strategy to focus upon intensive and improved family planning services in 146 high priority districts in 7 states (i.e. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Assam), a national workshop on Mission Parivar Vikas was organized in New Delhi on 15th June 2017, with the intent to galvanize states on the implementation strategy for MPV.

To support government’s strategy of revitalizing Post-abortion family planning in the country, a national orientation was organized in June 2017 to orient service providers trained in safe abortion services on technical and programmatic aspects of PAFP (including all methods). The workshop was organized in two batches and sought the active participation of all 34 states and Union Territories.

The year 2016 witnessed the Government of India stepping up its commitment to provide families with an expanded basket of contraceptive choices. The year was instrumental in initiating accelerated actions on several fronts for the introduction of new contraceptives in the country. In this endeavor, 5 regional trainings of Master Trainers on Injectable and Oral Contraceptives were organized, covering all states and Union Territories. Over 160 participants (primarily Senior Consultants, Chief Medical Officers, Obstetricians and Gynecologists, surgeons and professors from Medical Colleges) were groomed in the said MTOTs. This initiative was a step forward in the direction of empowering women in India with a wider option of contraceptive choices to address their reproductive health needs.

In Government of India’s endeavor to expand the basket of contraceptive choices with the introduction of new contraceptives, a 360-degree top down approach has been adopted to orient programme managers and clinical specialists as well as community level providers on the use of new contraceptives. ASHAs or Accredited Social Health Activists being the central pillar for enhancing demand and improving access to family planning services will play a crucial role in supporting the government in this venture. Aligning with government’s priorities, a national orientation for involving ASHAs to rollout new contraceptives was organized on 6th December 2016, with representation of family planning nodal officials and state ASHA nodal officials from 27 States and Union Territories.

To complement the learnings from the orientation, Family Planning Division, in close collaboration with National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC) developed an ASHA booklet and leaflet for updating ASHAs on new contraceptive choices.

Aligning with the Government of India’s priorities, and with the aim towards streamlining the country’s logistics and supply chain management system, the national orientation on Logistics Management of Family Planning Commodities was organized in December 2016. First of its kind, the workshop sought the active participation of representatives from 33 States and Union Territories (UTs).

Government of India is focusing robustly on increasing male engagement in family planning uptake.

Taking the same forward, a national workshop on Promotion of Male Participation in Family Planning that was organized by the Family Planning Division, Government of India in November 16, 2016. The workshop was a curtain raiser to the Vasectomy Fortnight being observed all across the country from 21st November – 4th December 2016.

This national initiative of GoI was held to strengthen the advocacy on male engagement in family planning through a transformational lens – wherein opportunities and strategies to engage men holistically as change makers, responsible partners, allies, torchbearers of transformation and gatekeepers of their families were deliberated upon.

In April 2016, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India organized a two-day National Family Planning Summit themed “New Choices, New Horizons”.

Graced by the presence and support of Shri. J. P. Nadda, Honorable Minister, Health and Family Welfare, among other key dignitaries, the summit was a instrumental in bringing together national and state level (government) officials and development partners to deliberate upon strengthening the family planning programme in India.

Key highlights of the 2016 National FP Summit included the launch technical guidelines and training manuals on new contraceptives (i.e. manual for Oral Pills and Injectables manual), launch of a comprehensive document on Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Injectables, release of the technical update of the Postabortion Family Planning (PAFP) manual and the launch of the new Family Planning media campaign starring Mr. Amitabh Bachchan.

Another unique aspect of the summit was the ‘Family Planning Marketplace’ organized to showcase best practices and innovations in family planning and display of basket of family planning options.