On August 7, 2015, Dr. Dileep Kumar, Civil Surgeon and Member Secretary of Jehanabad District Health Society in Bihar, India sent a directive to all local health centers and hospitals to observe “Fixed Day Static Services.” The Jehanabad population now has ready access to quality female sterilization services every Thursday throughout the year, in addition to the spacing methods regularly offered at health centers. Unlike the sterilization camp approach, which mostly occurs in the winter season, the weekly Fixed Day Static Services approach will increase the availability of providers, infrastructure and ensure access to services. Launched this month, all blocks in the district have reported that clients are availing of the services.
The Government of India introduced Fixed Day Static Services under the Family Welfare program in 2008, although it has yet to be realized in most of the Government’s high-priority states for population stabilization, including Bihar.
The initiative in Jehanabad district is a direct result of the Advance Family Planning (AFP) SMART facilitation workshop conducted on May 13, 2015. In response to continuous advocacy efforts by the AFP partners Population Foundation of India (PFI) and Gramin Evam Nagar Vikas Parishad’s (GENVP), the district civil surgeon Dr. Kumar, requested the workshop with the objective of strengthening the district’s family planning program.
The District Health Society organized a one-day facilitation in collaboration with PFI and GENVP. The workshop focused on understanding the district’s current family planning issues and developing a work plan for 2015-16. Block health officials from seven blocks in the district created block-specific objectives and plans. Dr. Kumar and the District Health Society made four SMART commitments to increase family planning expenditure (currently at 30% for the entire district of over one million people) and support improved quality of care, increased uptake of family planning services, and enhanced provider skills. The commitment to observe Fixed Day Static Services is the first to be implemented with the recent directive to Jehanabad health centers and hospitals. PFI and GENVP will be tracking progress of all the commitments.
Building on the momentum of the workshop, PFI and GENVP continued their engagement with key district health authorities to implement Fixed Day Static Services. Health facilities will strictly follow Ministry of Health and Family Welfare guidelines. The District Health Society will ensure surgeons and anesthetics in all blocks every Thursday. The AFP local partners will work closely with the District Program Manager to ensure implementation in all seven blocks.