Although Bangladesh has often been lauded for its success in the birth control programmes, recent revelations regarding the dwindling stock of contraceptives at the government level raise concerns.
The crisis of contraceptive products had emerged at the field level some months ago, risking unplanned pregnancies, abortions and women’s health services. It was reported that there was no supply of contraceptives at an upazila and grassroots level at many places in the country. The crisis of shortages of free contraceptives at the field level and lack of stocks in central office are still going on.
The crisis of shortages of free contraceptives at the field level and lack of stocks in central offices kept the very important government programme of controlling birth and reducing maternal and infantry mortality rate at the risk for long.
Admitting the matter, Matiur Rahman, Director at the Directorate General of Family Planning; expressed hope saying that the crisis will reduce with new supplies by this month.
It is known that birth control programme of the government is running with 11 donor organisations, including World Health Organisation (WHO). The programme is now going through the crisis of shortage of free contraceptives at the field level for the last eight months. Sources at the Directorate General of Family Planning said that acute crisis of birth control products such as condoms, pills and injections in the field levels to the central offices has created uncertainty in the birth control programme.
The sources further said the stock of most popular edible pill and some other items of birth control near to zero in most upazilas of the country. More than half of upazilas of the country are suffering lacking in stock of family planning materials, condoms, pills, injections, maternal and child health medicines.
An official of Directorate General of Family Planning in Manikgonj said, “There are no injection and pills in our office in the last four months. Besides, stocks of condom also are ending.”
Abdus Salam Khan, an additional secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Ministry; said that the ministry has learnt about the stock crisis of the free contraceptives. Supply of several items are getting. The ministry is trying to address the crisis, he added.
According to the sources, there are no condoms in 349 upazila stores, 97 upazilas will soon be out of stock, 22 upazila stores have minimum stock. 38 upazila stores have no pills (sukhi), 105 upazila stores will go out of stock very quickly and 207 upazila stores have minimum stock. On the other hand, 67 upazila stores have no food pills (Apan), 102 upazila stores will go out of stock very quickly and 99 upazila stores have minimum stock. Meanwhile, 298 upazila stores have no injection, 155 upazila stores will go out of stock very quickly and 33 upazila stores have minimum stock.
The field level officials called upon the government to address the acute crisis of the free contraceptives soon.
Professor Dr. M. Muzaherul Huq, former Adviser of the WHO; said, “It has been known that field level family planning offices including upazila hospitals are suffering from shortages of free contraceptives till now. The products are most important to limit population growth. These products help also to prevent many sexual transmission of diseases including HIV/AIDS.”
The professor also said that it is a must to address the crisis as soon as possible to avoid the threat of closing the imperative programme. He called for taking proactive measures to prevent the birther programme from failing.
