Family planning camps, ‘baskets of choice’ to mark World Population Day in Jalandhar

A campaign will be held from July 11 to 18 to mark World Population Day, during which special family planning camps will be organised by the Health Department across the district, Civil Surgeon Dr Rajesh Garg said today.

The Health Department will also distribute a ‘basket of choice’ containing modern temporary family planning methods, including contraceptives and pills, free of cost.

Referring to this year’s theme, “Right time and interval between children for the well-being of mother and child and prevention of unwanted pregnancy”, and the slogan, “When there is a right interval between children, the family is healthy and happy”, the Civil Surgeon said maintaining a safe and appropriate gap between the births of two children is extremely important for the good health of both the mother and the child.

Speaking about the family planning camps, the Civil Surgeon said these camps are being organised at CHC Kartarpur on July 11; PP Unit Civil Hospital Jalandhar on July 13; SDH Phillaur on July 14; CHC Adampur on July 15; PP Unit Civil Hospital Jalandhar on July 16; SDH Nakodar on July 17; and CHC Adampur on July 18. He said eligible couples can avail themselves of free sterilisation services under the supervision of expert doctors to limit their family size. He appealed to people seeking free advice on family planning methods or registration for these camps to contact the ASHA worker/ANM of their village or locality or the nearest government health institution.

The main objective of this initiative is to control population growth, improve basic facilities and raise the standard of living. Dr Garg said that, for the convenience of people, a ‘basket of choice’ containing modern temporary family planning methods is being made available free of cost at all government health centres. He said that by keeping the family size limited, parents can provide better care, education and healthcare to their children.