City Population Division to hold NSV forum

The City Health Office (CHO) Population Division invited Dabawenyos to participate in the forum on vasectomy in celebration of World Vasectomy Month.

The forum aims to educate the city’s constituents on what vasectomy is about and its benefits as a family planning method.

CHO Population Division Head, Ms. Jerrielyn Lewis, said during the ISpeak Media Forum on Thursday, that doctors specializing in vasectomy from the CHO will be attending the forum. Barangay Health Workers along with their partner organizations will also sit as a panel during the event.

The forum will be held on November 20 at 10 AM in SM City Davao. Lewis also said that they will be holding a motorcade on the same day as part of their kick-off event for the celebration of World Vasectomy Month.

“Karong bulana, i-celebrate nato ang World Vasectomy with a kick-off sa Monday, aduna’y motorcade nga pagahimuon maggikan sa Magsaysay Park matapos sa SM. Right after the motorcade, naa ta’y forum on vasectomy sa sulod sa SM (This month, we will celebrate World Vasectomy with a kick-off on Monday. We will hold a motorcade from Magsaysay Park to SM City Davao. After the motorcade, there will be a forum in SM on vasectomy).”

Since 2008, Davao City has been offering vasectomy services. Currently, the CHO Population Division has already recorded 89 individuals who chose to have a vasectomy, which is significantly higher than the previous year’s record of 74 individuals.

According to Lewis, unlike in the previous years when most of the people who availed of their vasectomy services were already in their 40s, their office observed that individuals in their 20s are actively participating in the program, with the youngest being 19.

“Karon naa na ta’y acceptor nga 20, which is beneficial siya, buot pasabot naabot sa grassroots ang atoang mga tudlo nga kung tama na ang sukod sa imong pamilya mamili na ta og mura’g permanente nga method (Currently, we have acceptors who are already in their 20s, which shows that our effort in educating the public on family planning has already reached the grassroots),” she said.

Lewis also emphasized on the importance of the procedure as it allows men to be more involved in the planning of the family.

“Importante siya because kani lang ang procedure nga ang bida gani nato ang mga bana kasi sa family planning, ang makita lang gyud permanente ang babae. Si asawa lang ang perme nga ginatuklod pasulod sa health center para mangita og family planning method. Kani mao pud ni iyahang participation ug mao pud ni ang iyahang act of love sa iyahang asawa ug sa iyahang anak kay sa pagpili sa vasectomy, at least makuha niya ang saktong numero sa iyahang pamilya nga kaya niyang masuportahan. (This is important because this is the only procedure wherein it’s husbands who are taking active participation in family planning because usually it is the wives who are being pushed to visit health centers to look for family planning methods. This is also his way of participating and an act of love to his family because by choosing to have a vasectomy, he can limit the size of his family that he can support).” CIO