Bihar Govt Distributes Condoms, Contraceptives To People Leaving Covid-19 Quarantine Centres

Going by the latest data provided by the National Health Survey 2016, Bihar fertility rate stands at 3.4 children per woman, which is highest among all the states in the country.

BSHS has launched a campaign to promote family planning in the densely populated state. (Representative Image/ Getty)

Patna: Observing sharp rise in fertility rate in state, Bihar government has decided to raise family  planning awareness among people. For the same, Bihar State Health Society (BSHS) is distributing condoms and contraceptives to thousands of men and women who are being discharged from hospital or leaving for home from quarantine units. Going by the latest data provided by the National Health Survey 2016, Bihar fertility rate stands at 3.4 children per woman, which is highest among all the states in the country. Moreover, the state recently noted a pattern of sharp rise in birth rate during the period when migrant workers return home from cities to spend time with family. An NDTV report claimed that Bihar government has observed sharp rise in institutional deliveries in the nine months after March and November when thousands of migrant workers return home from the cities to spend time with family during festivals. To control the trend, BSHS has launched a campaign to promote family planning in the densely populated state. “At the time of the migrants’ discharge from quarantine and isolation centres, the health workers not only give them tips on family planning but also provide packets of condoms, contraceptives and pregnancy kits to them,” a BSHS official reportedly said. As per the media reports, the authority has already started distributing condoms and contraceptives in various districts which saw over 22 lakh labuorers and workers returning from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and others. The districts include: Gopalgunj, Jamui, Samastipur, Supaul, Saran, Rohtas and East Champaran. Meanwhile, state has recorded 3,926 corona cases till date. While 1900 COVID-19 positive patients have recovered and been discharged from the hospitals, 24 people have lost their lives to the deadly disease.