DIMAPUR — Member of Nagaland Legislative Assembly (MLA) and chairman of Kohima District Planning and Development Board (DPDB), Dr. Tsielhoutuo Rhutso, has sought conscious effort of couples to plan their family size and time of pregnancy in the interest of the health of the mother and child.
He stated this during the inaugural programme of a two-day training on Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) for sexual reproductive health in emergency situation to prevent mortality, morbidity and disability in crisis affected populations held at the conference hall of the chief medical officer (CMO) in Kohima on Thursday.
The training is being organised by the Family Planning Association of India (FPAI), Nagaland branch, along with medical officers and nurses under the establishment of the chief medical officer (CMO), Kohima, DDMA personnel and selected youth organisations of Kohima under Sprint 4 project preparatory phase.
An update from FPAI stated that Dr. Rhutso has expressed happiness on NGOs and state agencies for collaborating towards preparedness for humanitarian emergencies response with focus on essentiality of sexual reproductive health.
He appreciated the comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) programme of the association in reaching out to the adolescents and young people with authentic information and education. He also emphasised on the need to educate the young people on HIV and STI as young people have been found tested positive with VDRL and even HIV.
Dr. Rhutso, with 22 years keyhole surgery experience, has offered voluntary service to provide free keyhole sterilisation for tubectomy and even vasectomy at his hospital for referrals made by FPAI or even at the FPAI clinic, whichever is convenient for the client.
Dr. Leamnyei Konyak, CMO of Kohima, has thanked Dr. Rhutso for the support with his presence to the collaborative training programme on MISP for sexual reproductive health as well as his commitment to health and medical care.
He also appreciated the presence of FPAI officials from the centre and the many notable works of the association for the welfare of the marginalised population on family planning and sexual reproductive health.
Delivering the keynote address, Sebastian Roy, branch member of steering committee, stated that being prepared is a key to good and efficient response.
“As a non-state actor on humanitarian crisis situation, we want to emphasised on sexual reproductive health in emergencies as essential and key to saving lives by following the MISP set of priorities, which is a global standard pioneered and rolled out by IPPF,” Roy said.
The MISP for SRH training programme was moderated by Vincent Belho, general manager of FPAI, Nagaland branch, Kohima.