Insight

The year 1999-2000 was a path-breaking year for SIFPSA in many ways. Its existing activities continued to grow and at the same time new directions were charted out. Private sector projects in 15 districts reached the stage of consolidation and their impacts became visible. The modernization and equipping of CHCs & block PHCs was extended to 23 districts and with infection prevention training of clinical teams at all these facilities, the safety & quality of services provided by them improved. It was decided to extend District Action Plans to 29 more districts & workshops were held in four of them to set objectives and chalk out strategies. The mass media portion of the multi media campaign began this year and continues to reach young couples all over the state through radio, TV and press. The advocacy part of the campaign aimed at elected village pradhans, doctors, government health workers and journalists evoked enthusiastic response with lots of readers writing to seek ways to get involved in the reproductive & child health programme. Perhaps the most successful IEC element was the folk media campaign. More than 2000 performances were held in four popular folk forms by troupes, which were trained by SIFPSA and had reproductive health messages incorporated in their scripts. However, the greatest achievement of the year was the launch of the statewide contraceptive marketing programme using Hindustan Latex Ltd., the biggest manufacturer & exporter of condoms in India. This major intervention will ensure availability of condoms & pills in retail outlets in an additional 9000 villages of U.P. and will help provide more than 1.37 million couple years of protection (CYP) at less than Rs. 110/- per CYP.

In financial terms as well, the performance in 1999-2000 touched a new high. Disbursements to SIFPSA funded projects were Rs. 414 million which is the highest for any year since inception. SIFPSA receives funds from USAID under the performance based disbursement system on the achievement of benchmarks, which are predetermined indicators of outcomes with values attached. 36 benchmarks valued at US $ 16.25 million were achieved in 1999-2000 compared to 29 benchmarks valued at US $ 10.825 million in the previous year. This shows an increase of 50% over the performance of last year and is the highest ever in any year.

The SO2 survey conducted in January, 2000 by USAID for tracking the performance of the IFPS Project showed a marked improvement in 15 districts, where SIFPSA activities were concentrated. In 1995, the contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) was 22.4 percent in these districts & 20.0 percent in other districts. However, at the end of 1999, CPR had increased to 27.5 percent in these 15 districts and to only 20.7 percent in other districts. Thus the difference in modern contraceptive use between these & other districts increased in the last four & a half years from 2.4 percent in 1995 to 6.8 percent in 1999 end. This shows that SIFPSA activities are making a significant difference.