Men join forces to address maternal deaths  

SIMIYU : SOME men here have started using vasectomy, a type of family planning method, in supporting the fight against maternal deaths and to have reasonable number of children for proper care.

The vasectomy is the form of male birth control that cuts the supply of sperm. It’s done by cutting and sealing the tubes that carry sperm. It has a low risk of problems and can usually be performed in an outpatient setting under local anesthesia.

One of men who use the method, Mr John Sayi, a resident of Sulu Street in Mbalagani, Maswa district, said he made such a decision in April this year.

“I heard about vasectomy through media on why men should have it and where the service is available. I consulted my wife and went to health centre for the service,” said a father of six.

He also wanted her wife to have a rest, since she had been on contraceptives. Mr Sayi affirmed not to regret over his decision, saying vasectomy has numerous advantages, including additional of body energy to men during sexual intercourse.

The 47-year-old man dismissed romours that vasectomy leads in to dysfunction, calling on his fellows to have the service, for wellbeing of their families, both socially and economically.

Simiyu Regional Reproductive and Child Health Coordinator Ms Mary Makunja, commented that the number of men who have undergone vasectomy was increasing, saying that majority were initially against family planning.

Members of the community currently respond to family planning issues following awareness campaign being conducted through ‘USAID Afya Yangu-RMNCAH’ project, she said.

A-five-year (2022-2027) project is for reproductive, maternal, newborn, child as well as adolescent health issues and has been which is implemented by the Tanzanian government in collaboration with various stakeholders in Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar, under the 66.8 milion US dollars sponsorship from the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

“Birth rate was highest in our region, in the past, as we could find women with over 12 children, completely with no spacing, a situation that puts both a mother and the minors at risk, health-wise.

“It is because such a mother has no time to engage in economic activities, mostly farming, to have enough food for her family,” said the coordinator.