Family planning initiative in Uttar Pradesh

A unique initiative to strengthen family planning program in Uttar Pradesh, rolled out by Hindustan Latex Family Planning Promotion Trust (HLFPPT) and US-based Population Services International (PSI), is significantly expanding and increasing contraceptive choices among people residing in urban slums of India’s most populous state.

Funded by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the initiative, titled, ‘Expand Access and Quality to Broaden Method Choice in UP’, is being jointly implemented by HLFPPT, a front-ranking voluntary body in the health sector, and PSI.

The program, with a focus on training and accreditation of health facilities on family planning service, has been making positive impact with an appreciable increase in use of condoms, insertion of IUCDs and use of oral contraceptive pills and injectable.

HLFPPT CEO Sharad Agarwal said the programme is intended to increase the use of Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARC) and Long-Acting & Permanent Methods (LAPM) by expanding choice and access among men and women residing in urban slums of 32 districts in Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state.

“The programme leverages the existing franchisee health facilities instituted by the two implementing partners in the 32 districts of the state (17 districts covered by HLFPPT and 15 by PSI). It aims at training and accreditations of these health facilities on family planning service with a focus on integrating LARC and LAPMs,” he said.

“Training, quality assurance and accreditation are the focus areas under the programme,” he added.The 17 districts being covered by HLFPPT are Amethi, Badaun, Baghpat, Bahraich, Ballia, Chandauli, Etah, Gonda, Jaunpur, Jhansi, Kanpur Dehat, Kushinagar, Maharajganj, Shahjahanpur, Siddharthnagar, Sitapur and Unnao.

The intended objectives of the program are to increase access of family planning and reproductive health services among women of reproductive age and augment quality contraceptive choices available to men in identified urban slum areas.

For a successful implementation of the programme, HLFPPT has implemented a multi-pronged strategy, which includes identification of eligible facilities for accreditation; orientation workshop and technical support to the facilities in terms of online application, community meetings, Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) campaigns and regular quality audits.

Further, a Folk Van activity has been launched, which promotes family planning and use of contraceptives, builds rapport with the community, and promotes the health facility accreditation for urban slums.