At
this time when almost everything looks at age decisively, it is only in
Vasectomy when age actually does not matter. But unfortunately, only less than
one percent of Dabawenyos who use a contraceptive method prefer Non Scalpel
Vasectomy (NSV).
“We
are pushing for NSV because it is one of the most cost effective Reproductive
Health Program available to the local government,” Assistant City Health Officer
Dr. Samuel Cruz said Thursday during the iSpeak media forum.
He
said age does not matter on vasectomy because what matters is the couple’s
decision to plan their family. Thus, even and 18-year old guy can already get
NSV if he and his wife thinks they have enough children already.
Cruz
said NSV is one of the cheapest contraceptive available and yet only 15 local
government units all over the country offer this to their constituents, with
only two LGUs here accredited by a world vasectomy organization.
Only
Davao and Cebu cities have been accredited by the worldvasectory.org to
participate in the World Vasectomy Day on October 18 which targets at least
1000 vasectomies across 25 countries in 25 hours.
“Less
than 15 LGUs have a vasectomy program for their constituents,” Cruz said. Among
the accredited doctors in Davao are Doctors Samuel Cruz, Miguel Ababon, Titus
Antonio, Laredo Rabang and Ashley Lopez.
Cruz said it is definitely not the cost that has kept the country’s various
LGUs to implement a vasectomy program since it is very cheap at a cost of less
than P100 per vasectomy. The only things needed, aside from a well-trained
doctor, are bandaid, one amp anaesthesia and betadine.
Perception
is an important part of a family planning program and most LGUs may not
consider Vasectomy a priority compared to other methods like pills and
Bilateral Tubal Ligation (BTL).
This
is ironic, he said, considering that up to 60% of men in the United States who
are at least 35 years old are vasectomized and they pay between P20,000 to
P100,000 for the procedure. This is so cheap in the Philippines and yet not all
LGUs are taking advantage of the program, he added.
Davao
City has implemented the No Scalpel Vasectomy (NSV) Program since 2008. A total
of 300 Dabawenyos have availed of the NSV since then but more are expected this
year. But even before its formal
implementation, a group of doctors who went to Caraga in Davao Region to train
on NSV had a hard time getting volunteers for the program.
“This
needs behavioral change and acceptance; family planning is not solely for women
but men should also participate and the best way is through NSV,” he said.
The
city shoulders the P2,500 payment per person for the whole procedure and
another P2,500 is provided to the volunteer to compensate for the loss of
income during the vasectomy day. “But this is not the main selling point of our
Program,” Mr. Cruz said.
Moises
F. Villacorta, Information Officer of the Commission on Population (PopCom) XI
said Dava0 had a 50% rating in the latest 2008 National Demographic Health
Survey and the highest method used at 60% contraceptive prevalence rate was
oral contraceptives. He said NSV got a prevalence rate of less than 10%.
