Need a good plan for family planning in Meghalaya
Editor,
The article titled, “A different approach to family planning is needed” (ST Sep 7, 2023) says all the right things. Unfortunately, while the authors provide data for a number of states, Meghalaya is not included in their list.
They mention seven states in which there is an urgent need to reduce the fertility rate by 2025. But Meghalaya, while not mentioned, has the highest fertility rate in the country of 2.9, while the national average is 2.0. Meghalaya has the highest proportion of pre-school children in the country, surely a factor for the high child malnutrition in the state.
The article mentions several states in which female sterilization has increased markedly. In India female sterilization increased from 36.0 – 37.9% between the National Family Health Survey 4 (2015-16) to NFHS5 (2019-21). However, the already low rate in Meghalaya fell even further from 6.2 – 5.6% between NFHS 4 & 5. Actually it was highest way back in NFHS3 (2005-6), at 9.5%.
Incidentally male sterilization in Meghalaya which was 0.1% in 2005-06 has firmly remained at zero since then. Perhaps there is no parallel to this kind of male refusal in the rest of the country! Male attitudes are a significant factor for low family planning stats in our state.
The authors rightly say that we need to look beyond permanent methods but don’t offer much by way of a solution. The use of contraceptives in Meghalaya of any kind, is the lowest in the country and has remained static between the last two NFH surveys at 24.3%, while the national average has improved from 53.5 – 66.7%. Even among tribals as a whole in India, contraceptive use is at 48.6%, exactly double of Meghalaya.
A recent survey found that many of the women respondents were against contraceptives, even some village and church leaders. These are some typical responses: “I’m very strict for my own daughter, if she is in a relationship, she should not use any methods, if she does then there is spiritual punishment”, and “There are many awareness programs on using family planning, but I feel it’s a sin”.
The biggest and hardest obstacle are deeply-entrenched beliefs, which seem to cut across all religious groups, indicating perhaps that this is a cultural obstinacy. It will take community and church leaders to bring about the cultural change that is needed. In Chrisitan countries all over the world, family planning is a well-accepted practice. In none of those countries do we see such grim realities for women as here.
When confronted with dire and dismal statistics about Meghalaya, our ministers often say that the data is old and matters have improved. That may be so, but remember other states have also improved in the meantime. Actually, the gap with the rest of the country may actually be increasing in Meghalaya.
Yours etc.,
Glenn C. Kharkongor,
Via email
Unprofessional Conduct at Jiban Ram Goenka Hospital
Editor,
I am writing to express my deep dissatisfaction and concern regarding the recent experiences my mother had at Jiban Ram Goenka Hospital, located at Rabindra Nath Tagore Marg, Upper Mawprem, Garikhana, Shillong. On September 1st, 2023, and September 2nd, 2023, my mother visited the hospital seeking dental treatment, and the unprofessional behaviour exhibited by the staff and the dentist has left us deeply troubled.
On September 1st, 2023, my mother arrived at the hospital to meet the dentist at 11:30 AM. However, the lady sitting at the reception informed her that the time for receiving patients had ended at 11 AM because the doctor said to stop writing the appointments, but as seen by my mother there were only four patients. The receptionist informed my mother that the time for seeking appointments is from 9 AM to 11 AM. My mother, in good faith, returned the next day, September 2nd, 2023, at 10 AM, hoping to receive proper treatment.
To her shock and dismay, the same receptionist on the second visit declared that the time for receiving patients was already over. This was in direct contradiction to what my mother had been told earlier. When my mother reminded her that she had been given different information the previous day, the receptionist disclaimed any knowledge and suggested talking to the doctor. This unprofessional behaviour left my mother feeling confused and frustrated.
When my mother spoke with the doctor, the experience turned even more distressing. The doctor, without any valid reason, aggressively counted seven slips and threw them in front of my mother, stating that it will take her till 2 PM to treat those seven patients. However, to her disbelief, the doctor managed to attend to these seven patients in just 30 minutes. This inconsistency in the doctor’s actions raises serious questions about her professionalism and ethics.
Furthermore, my mother was treated disrespectfully during this encounter. The doctor’s attitude and demeanour were completely unbecoming of a medical professional. She even went as far as telling my mother to leave the hospital premises.
Additionally, while my mother was present, another lady arrived at around 10:15 AM, seeking treatment for her child, who was in pain. The doctor callously informed this lady that the time was over and that she should return on Monday. Despite the child’s obvious discomfort and the fact that she was a school-going student who would have to miss school to come back, the doctor displayed a shocking lack of empathy and refused to provide any assistance. Another eight patients were also turned away within the time span that my mother was present there.
Such unprofessional conduct by the dentist and staff at Jiban Ram Goenka Hospital is not only unacceptable but also a disservice to the community. Patients deserve to be treated with respect and empathy, and medical professionals should adhere to ethical standards of care.
I am writing to draw the attention of the authorities of Jiban Ram Goenka Hospital and kindly request that the ethics and quality of service of the Hospital be investigated thoroughly, and appropriate action be taken to address the unprofessional behaviour and attitude of the dentist and the staff at the hospital. Patients should not have to endure such distressing experiences when seeking medical care.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request,
Via email