Erode tops in conducting sterilization surgery

Erode district has exceeded the government's target of performing sterilization surgery for women in the state for the last 3 years continuously.

On the occasion of World Population Day on Monday, Collector H Krishnaunni inaugurated a students' awareness rally, an expo, and awareness vehicle on population control measures.

Deputy Director of Health (Family Welfare) Dr. Rajasekar told the reporters that the Tamil Nadu government had set a target of 9300 surgeries every year in the district in the last three years, but the district has exceeded the target by performing 10745, 9772, 9965 surgeries in கடந்த 2019- 20, 2020-21, 2021-22 respectively.  Population growth is 1.7 percent in the nation, but in Erode district it is less than national and state average. On an average, 2400 babies born per month in this district. Total population is 23.70 lakhs.  65 percent of total births take place in private hospitals and 35 percent in government hospitals and out of which 48% are delivered by caesarean surgery. 

 The government has set a target to reduce this to 30 percent. Maternal mortality rate is 48 per 1 lakh and infant mortality rate is 10.8 per 1000 children which is lower than the Indian and state level rate. 60% of couples of childbearing age stop with having one child. Some families have up to 4 children which has now come down to an average of 3.

 Similarly, the gap between one child and another has also increased in the district.  Girls below 18 years were considered minor. So, when they perform abortion, the police department is informed. They register case on the person behind the surgery under the POCSO Act.  Abortion can be done up to 21 weeks. Now, it was hiked to 24 weeks. If the pregnancy is more than 24 weeks, district medical board's consent is needed. Now, such board is functioning at the Erode government medical college hospital, Perundurai. 

He said that government hospitals have facilities to perform abortions for even girls below 18 years of age, he added.