Vincent Belho
General Manager, FPA India, Nagaland Branch, Kohima
Established in 1949, the Family Planning Association of India (FPA India) is a founding member of International Planned Parenthood Federation. FPA India strengthens a voluntary commitment to advocate for SRH and Rights and, choices. It promotes access to SRH information and services related to family planning, safe abortions, HIV/AIDS and sexuality to poor, marginalised and vulnerable populations including young people.
Its work in sexual and reproductive health (SRH) covers safe motherhood and child survival, empowerment of women, male involvement, adolescent health and youth development.
FPAI works closely with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the government. FPAI operates over 4,000 service points spread across 17 states in India. A community-centred approach is at the core of FPAI's work. Our programmes are designed to deliver improved health and standards of living, better decision-making, and greater self-reliance. It aims to enable men and women to form local voluntary groups to initiate action in communities. Work primarily focuses on under-served rural areas and urban slums.
The organization exploits a variety of media to impart its message, including film, radio, newsletters, journals and other print materials, as part of a wide-ranging education programme addressing topics such as family planning, maternal and child health, the risks of unsafe abortion, infertility, the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and counselling for newlyweds.
FPAI encourages the empowerment of women through mahila mandals (women's groups), literacy and income generation programmes. It’s been addressing the concerns of young people in a holistic manner through Sexuality Education, Counselling, Research, Training/Therapy (SECRT) Centres spread across the country. The centres offer youth-friendly services that prepare young people for their future by building the confidence and self-esteem essential to forging healthy relationships. They also offer counselling and information on various developmental issues, including sex, coping with peer pressure, relationships, responsible sexual behaviour, marriage, parenthood, contraception and the prevention of STIs including HIV and AIDS.
As an advocate, FPAI exerts influence through community representatives, through the media, and through representation on government bodies such as the Central Health and Welfare Council and Steering Committee on Population Education.
Vision
FPA India envisions sexual and reproductive health for all as a human right, including gender equality leading to alleviation of poverty, population stabilization and sustainable development.
Mission
FPA India strengthens a voluntary commitment to advocate for SRH and Rights and, choices. It promotes access to SRH information and services related to family planning, safe abortions, HIV/AIDS and sexuality to poor, marginalised and vulnerable populations including young people.
FAMILY PLANNING means the conscious effort of couples or individuals to plan for; and attain their desired number of children and to regulate the spacing and timing of their births. Family planning is achieved through contraception and through the treatment of infertility.
SEXUAL & REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH services is the constellation of methods, techniques and services that contributes to sexual and reproductive health and well-being through preventing and managing sexual and reproductive health problems.
ADOLESCENCE is the period of transition from childhood to adulthood, describing both the development to sexual maturity and to psychological and relative economic independence. The World Health Organisation uses the 10 – 19 year age range to define adolescence, with further divisions for early adolescence: 10 – 14 years, and late adolescence: 15 – 19 years. In FPA India’s strategic plan Adolescence includes young people in the age group of 10 – 24 years.
BRIEF HISTORY OF NAGALAND BRANCH
FPA India, Nagaland Branch is a locally owned, nationally and globally connected social impact movement; we work to ensure people are free to make choices about their sexuality and well-being, in a World without discrimination. Women & Girls, Youth, Poor & Vulnerable and humanitarian.
Reproductive Health & Family Planning Clinic (RHFPC) at Daklane and RHFPC Satellite Centre at NSF Martyrs park Kohima provides Counseling on Family Planning, Adolescents friendly health & Sexuality education, Training, Conducts awareness campaign including services on contraceptives, Mother & Child health, HIV/AIDS, Hepatittis B/C, MTP-1st trimester, SRH & other general health services besides Universal Immunization for Children and regular Laboratory services.
The FPAI Nagaland Branch is the pioneer agency in Nagaland in the field of Family Welfare (Planning). The initiative for setting up the Branch was taken by S.P Sinha along with a group of eminent social worker of the State towards the end of 1976. The preliminary meeting was held at Diphupar (Dimapur) with S.P. Wetsah in the chair on 2nd December 1976 and an Ad-hoc Committee with S.P. Sinha as Convenor was formed. This Committee got in touch with the FPAI HQ Bombay and under their guidance a Steering Committee with the following members was formed on 29.1.1977 in a general meeting held in the Nagaland Bhasha Parishad, Kohima under the President-ship of Dr. L.M. Murry: 1. Dr. L.M. Murry - President 2. Mr. T.S. Gill - Member 3. Mrs. L. Dino - Member 4. Dr. K.K. Angami - Member 5. Mr. M. Alemchiba Ao - Member 6. Prof. B.B. Kumar - Member 7. Mr. S.P. Wetash - Member 8. Mr. P.P. Rai - Member 9. Prof. T.B. Rai - Member 10. Mr. S.P. Sinha - General Secretary
The Branch was affiliated to the FPAI HQ, Bombay in 1977 and started its activities in and around Kohima on a purely Voluntary basis. In the beginning, the organizers faced a number of difficulties in implementing the programs. Only two Projects were sanctioned to the Branch - Population Education and Maternal & Child Health Care. However, it was very difficult to get suitable and trained staff for the work. Moreover, the aftermath of the Internal Emergency declared in June 1975 was looming large and the subject of Family Planning was highly unpopular then. In view of the mood of the people throughout the country, even Governments were very careful in implementing Family Planning Programs. However, in course of time, these difficulties were overcome and the activities of the Branch caught up.
Presently, the Branch is the only Government recognized agency in Nagaland working in the field of Family Welfare (Planning). It is also registered under the societies Registration Act 1860 as amended vide Nagaland (First Amendment) Act, 1969 (bearing Registration No. RS/143 dated 5.7.1978) and all donations contributed to FPA India are exempted under Section 80G (2) (a) (vii) of the Income Tax Act.
SERVICES AT A GLANCE:
GYNECOLOGICAL SERVICES: Treatment for general gynecological conditions, menstruation related conditions, menstruation related conditions, sexually transmitted and reproductive tract infections, polycystic ovarian cystic disease, pelvic inflammatory disease.
INFERTILITY SERVICES: Counseling and primary treatment of infertility, investigations and referral.
SERVICES FOR MEN: Counseling and treatment for men for conditions like sexual dysfunction, infertility, hernia, hydrocoele, urinary tract related conditions etc. sexually transmitted and reproductive tract infections.
GENDER BASED VIOLENCE RELATED SERVICES: Primary counseling and referral services.
LABORATORY SERVICES: Basic blood investigations including hemoglobin, blood count, ESR. Blood grouping, HIV, HBV, VDRL, Malaria, typhoid, albumin, sugar test, urine test, semen test, Ultrasonography , Bone dexa scan, Pap smear, colposcopy.
CONTRACEPTIVE SERVICES: Combined Oral Pills, Emergency pills, Injectable contraceptive DMPA, Intrauterine device – Copper T 380 A and multiload, Male and female condoms, Male sterilization- incisional and non scalpel vasectomy, female sterilization – Minilaparotomy and laparoscopy, counseling services.
MEDICAL TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY (ABORTION) SERVICES: Up to 9 weeks- Medical abortion pills up to 12 weeks - surgical abortion, treatment of incomplete abortion and abortion complications, abortion related counseling. Post abortion contraception. Up to 20 weeks-Second trimester abortions are available only in selected branches.
HIV RELATED SERVICES: HIV testing, HBV test, Pre and post test counseling, Prevention counseling, Treatment of opportunistic infections, sexually transmitted diseases treatment, HBV vaccination.
MATERNAL AND CHILD CARE SERVICES: Urine pregnancy test, Antenatal care including injection TT and supplementation, counseling, post natal care and counseling, immunization services for children, general clinic for mothers and children.
REPRODUCTIVE CANCER RELATED SERVICES: Pap smear test, counseling and referrals, breast cancer screening.
Some of the planned highlights of the 68th Foundation Day of FPA India are roadside IEC Mela / Campaign, Social media Campaign with Articles on Issues related to FPA India vision and goals, Free Health Check-Ups in the Clinic till end July. Free contraceptives, free routine laboratory tests. Free HIV tests, free Hepatitis test. Rs. 68/- free will donation from staffs and volunteers and well wishers for supporting the programs, felicitation of Staffs, volunteers, field workers and doctors associated and supporting FPAI. The grand finale of the Foundation Day campaign will culminate on 31st July with Live Music and felicitation along with Volunteers and well wishers.
