The City Health Office, through the City Population Office, is planning to intensify the information dissemination and implementation of long-term family planning methods in 2024.
Jerrielyn Lewis, Chief of the City Population Office, said in an interview with the Kabataan, Pamilya ug Katilingban over the city-owned Davao City Disaster Radio that their office saw a 40 percent increase in the number of individuals who availed of their subdermal contraceptive implants (SDI).
“So far, kung basehan nato ang datos, ang increase namo is niabot gyud mi, sa kato nga method lang sa SDI particularly, niabot mi og 40 percent increase, so sa ato pa naa gyu’y demand [So far, if we base on the data, we recorded a 40 percent increase in the number of people who availed of the SDI method alone],” she said.
According to Lewis, the SDI can provide effective contraception for three years and is also fit for the younger generation.
Lewis also said that the SDI supply of the CHO, in the past, was subsidized by the DOH. Currently, the city government is planning to purchase its supply of SDI to ensure its availability in the health centers.
“In the past, ang atoang subdermal implant is subsidized by the DOH. Karon naa’y intention ang atoang panggamhanan nga kita gyu’y mupalit nalang para dili gyud ta mahutdan [In the past, the subdermal implants are subsidized by the DOH. Now, however, the city government is planning on purchasing our supply to make sure that it is available],” she shared.
Meanwhile, the referral for bilateral tubal ligation (BTL) is once again active. Lewis said that other than the implementation of the method, their office continues to educate women on BTL while at the same time debunking misconceptions about other family planning methods, specifically the No-Scalpel Vasectomy (NSV).
Lewis explained that there were instances when women would opt for the BTL because they feared that the NSV would harm their husbands. However, compared to the BTL, the procedure for the NSV takes little time and does not demand a longer recuperation time and aftercare.
In line with this, the office is also planning to intensify their information dissemination on the benefits of NSV, as well as their efforts in reaching out to the male population and informing them of the importance of their involvement in family planning beyond the notion that their role is mainly as providers of the family.
The CHO is also partnering with the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) to provide intervention services during the recovery of their clients who availed of their services.
The family planning methods and services offered by the CHO are free and can be availed in their health centers. Lewis is urging Dabawenyos to reach out to their office regarding their sexual-related and family-planning concerns. CIO
