more-in Officials from nine southern districts have been asked to create awareness of two new contraceptive methods introduced by the Centre. A special review meeting was conducted here on Monday to assess the performance of various stakeholders. Addressing the meeting, P. Banu, Director of Medical and Rural Health Services, said the new contraceptive techniques – injectable Medroxy Progesterone Acetate (MPA), developed under ‘Antara’ programme, and ‘Chhaya’ pill, promoted in public health system – would not have long-term impact or serious side-effects, she said. ‘Chhaya’, prepared in Kolkata, was a non-hormonal, non-steroidal pill that should be consumed twice a week. The Antara injection should be administered once in three months. It worked effectively after pregnancy, Dr. Banu said. The ‘Antara’ programme, launched in September 2017, saw phased dispersion of the contraceptives. Of the 21,000 injectable MPA doses despatched to primary health centres (PHCs), medical college hospitals, government hospitals and urban PHCs across the State, only 4,800 had been utilised to date. Similarly, 1,40,000 contraceptive pills had been stocked but they had hardly been prescribed. Dr. Banu said the department was identifying blocks with higher order births (a situation wherein there are more than two children in families). A total of 120 such blocks had been identified across the State, with three in Madurai – Karungalakudi, Melur and Kallikudi. Special drive campaigns would be held in these areas where medical officers and staff nurses would explain to people the various birth control techniques. “In order to prevent death of mothers, private medical practitioners must use safe birth control techniques,” she stressed.

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