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KATHMANDU, Nepal, April 1, 2004 — PSI/Nepal's network of over 50 franchised health clinics and 120 trained family planning providers, Sun Quality Health, reaches out to communities of the Kathmandu Valley through health fairs that deliver reproductive health information in an entertaining format and affordable family planning services via a mobile clinic. The mobile clinic of the Sun Quality Health (SQH) network, with funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development, offers temporary contraceptive methods such as condoms and oral contraceptives, semi-permanent methods including intrauterine devices and permanent methods such as vasectomies. The story of Krishna Tamang, one satisfied Sun Quality Health mobile clinic client, illustrates how affordable family planning options improve the quality of life for the entire family. After the closure of the transport factory where he worked, Krishna Tamang was despondent. He didn't know how he would care for his family and was worried about what would happen if his wife, Laxmi, had any more children. While Krishna loved his three sons dearly, he knew he could not afford to look after any more children. Krishna had heard about family planning methods, but was skeptical of their effectiveness and was afraid of possible side effects. The Village Development Committee (VDC) chief had recently attended a community mobilization meeting hosted by PSI/Nepal's SQH network, and was impressed by the information he received on family planning. He told Krishna about family planning options and the upcoming SQH fair. PSI/Nepal hosted a series of 12 SQH health fairs to promote its recently launched network. These fairs offered free health check ups and inexpensive family planning services conducted from the mobile SQH clinic. Street plays, a short film, games and magic shows entertained and educated the crowds on reproductive health issues. After speaking to the chief, Krishna and Laxmi went to meet with their local SQH provider who counseled them on all family planning methods available. Both Krishma and Laxmi decided that a vasectomy was the best option for them since they already had three children, and Krishna registered for a vasectomy to be conducted at the SQH fair the following weekend. Krishma, Laxmi and their sons went to the SQH fair where Krishna registered for his operation, Laxmi and the boys watched the magician's show, an entertaining video and a street drama. Laxmi strongly agreed with the message she heard at the fair of "don't be embarrassed to talk about family planning" and she was glad that she and Krishna had already made this decision together. She also promised herself that when her sons grew up she would talk to them about family planning. Krishna was nervous but he received a warm welcome from the nursing staff, which put him at ease. He met with the counselor who explained the process of the operation and answered all his questions. The counselor was friendly and informative and Krishna left the session feeling even more confident about his decision. The operation took place in a clean and hygienic mobile van and the doctor was efficient and professional. Fifteen minutes later, Krishna left the operating room. He was surprised at how fast and how painless the operation had been. Although Krishna had to pay a small amount for the operation, he was happy to do so because to receive similar quality services in the city would have been more costly and time consuming. After the operation, Krishna felt fine and the SQH vehicle dropped him home. A week later, the mobile van returned to Krishna's VDC for a post-operative check up. There was no infection and Krishna could boast of a successful operation. Krishna's experience with SQH had a huge impact on his life. After the vasectomy, Krishna felt more positive about his future. He no longer worried about supporting more children and was confident that he could care for his family with the resources that he had. Laxmi was also glad that her child-bearing days were over and she set up a small fruit stall to contribute to the household income. Krishna has become a strong advocate of SQH and talks to his family and friends about the service he received through his local neighborhood provider. — Batya Atlas, PSI/Nepal
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