- Increased availability spurs awareness of family planning in the state
- As a result of Yogi govt’s efforts, UP tops in the country in implementing FP LMIS
- Portal and App ensure access to family planning means
By Our Correspondent
Lucknow, July 6: The Yogi government is actively promoting family planning awareness among couples in the state through various programs. Initiatives such as the Sarathi Vahan and Saas Beta Bahu Sammelan are being organized to educate the public. Additionally, all health units in the state are offering free family planning resources and consultations.
The “Family Planning Logistics Management Information System” (FP-LMIS), under CM Yogi’s supervision, has significantly improved the availability of these services, leading to increased awareness about family planning in the state.
Dr. Pinky Jowal, Mission Director of the National Health Mission, stated that the FP-LMIS system has been crucial in ensuring the availability and accessibility of family planning resources. She remarked, “This initiative is not only effective now, but will also be a vital tool for managing health services in the future.”
Dr. Jowal highlighted that owing to CM Yogi’s foresight, the state has ranked first nationally in implementing FP-LMIS by ASHA workers in the financial year 2023-24. She added that efforts are being made to ensure that necessary resources are continuously accessible, allowing beneficiaries to receive services without interruption.
Family Welfare Program General Manager Dr. Suryanshu Ojha explained that FP-LMIS is a digital system designed to manage the supply chain of family planning resources between health centers and other distribution points.
Developed by the National Technical Support Unit, Family Planning Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India in 2017, the system was implemented in 2018. Its primary objective is to ensure the timely and accurate availability of necessary resources to meet local demands.
FP-LFIS spurs demand for modern methods
Since the launch of the FP-LMIS portal in the state, the shortage of family planning resources has significantly decreased. Currently, contraceptives are readily available in health centers.
This system has enabled local health workers to monitor stock levels in real-time, resulting in a substantial increase in the distribution of family planning resources in 2023-24 compared to 2020-21. This improvement reflects a significant advancement in the state’s health services and indicates a growing demand for modern contraceptive methods.
Dr. BN Yadav, Lucknow ACMO (Reproductive Health), expressed, “LMIS has significantly streamlined our work. We no longer face concerns about shortages of family planning resources and can consistently provide services to our beneficiaries.”
The National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5 reveals that the total unmet need in the state (where couples do not want children and are not using any family planning method) stands at 12.9 percent. Specifically, the unmet need for interval methods is 4.8 percent. In comparison, NFHS-4 reported a higher total unmet need of 18.1 percent, with an interval methods unmet need of 6.8 percent. These figures indicate an increased demand for family planning methods across the state.
Portal provides easy access to demand and supply data
The state’s FP-LMIS consultant, Mohammad Kashif, highlighted that FP-LMIS enables real-time tracking of stock levels across all health centers, ensuring timely replenishment. The portal also provides readily accessible demand and supply data, effectively eliminating challenges related to both overstocking and shortages. Additionally, health workers receive training at every level to use the portal/app on their mobile phones, enhancing accessibility and usability in their daily operations.
