Staff Reporter :
The crisis surrounding contraceptive items has intensified, with concerns raised about the actions of a newly promoted official in a key role within the Directorate General of Family Planning.
Insiders reveal that a Deputy Director, now elevated to the position of Director, has reportedly canceled 12 purchasing schedules for contraceptive items.
The decision has further exacerbated the existing uncertainty surrounding the availability of essential birth control products, including condoms, pills, and injections.
For an extended period, there has been a significant shortage of these crucial birth control products nationwide. The scarcity not only jeopardizes effective family planning efforts but also raises the risk of a surge in HIV/AIDS infections throughout the country.
The government’s family planning program is grappling with a shortage of medicine stock, with shortages evident at every level from the field to the central administration. The lack of adequate stock of family planning materials poses a direct threat to the government’s family planning initiatives.
Officials within the Directorate General of Family Planning report that more than half of the upazilas (sub-districts) across the country are facing shortages of essential family planning materials, including condoms, pills, injections, as well as maternal and child health medicines. This shortfall raises concerns about the accessibility of vital services for the general population.
A comprehensive review of the current stock of family planning products at the upazila level reveals alarming shortages across various essential items.
As per the assessment, 349 upazila stores are currently devoid of condoms, with an additional 97 upazilas expected to face stock depletion imminently. Moreover, 22 upazila stores possess only minimal stock. Similarly, 38 upazila stores are lacking in pills (sukhi), while 105 upazilas are on the verge of running out of stock, and 207 upazila stores have only minimal stock available.
Additionally, 67 upazila stores are without food pills (Apan), with 102 upazilas facing imminent depletion and 99 upazilas having minimal stock. Furthermore, 298 upazila stores do not have injection supplies, with 155 upazilas anticipated to rapidly deplete their stock, and 33 upazilas maintaining only minimal stock levels.
Sohail Parvez, Director of the Directorate, responded to inquiries about the stock shortage, mentioning that he assumed the post on May 24 last year. Since then, he has endeavored to procure contraceptives but has encountered challenges in this regard.
Marzia Haque, another Director of the Directorate, acknowledged the shortages in medicines related to women and children’s health, particularly highlighting the deficient supplies of condoms and pills. She assured that efforts are underway to bolster the stock, expressing optimism that the crisis will be resolved promptly.
Efforts to contact Sahan Ara Banu, Director General of the Directorate, were unsuccessful as she could not be reached over the telephone.
