Accra, Feb. 26, GNA- A new campaign that aims at correcting the misconceptions associated with Vasectomy as a family planning method was on Thursday launched by the Ghana Social Marketing Foundation (GSMF) at a ceremony in Accra.

The "Life Choices" campaign "Get a permanent smile, have a Vasectomy" was launched within the framework of the male reproductive health services to provide the needed reliable and accurate information to all people living in Ghana.

Speaking at the launch, Dr Joanna Nerquaye-Tetteh, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana said the objective of the campaign was to empower Ghanaians to manage their fertility, and determine the timing and number of children they would want to have and cater for.

She said the campaign also seeks to demonstrate how the conceptive can help individuals achieve their goals in life and improve the quality of their lives.

Dr. Nerquaye-Tetteh further emphasized the importance of being aware that choices existed throughout the entire reproductive health cycle.

She noted that though there has been a significant decline in the total of the fertility rate over the past ten years, modern contraceptive, which is 13 percent prevalence, is still low.

" As the President noted when he launched the "Life Choices" campaign in 2001, the current practice where families are not planned undermines the effort of government to provide adequate health, housing, and employment for Ghanaian citizens" she said.

In an address read for her, Dr Henrietta Odoi-Agyarko, Deputy Director of Public Health of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) said Vasectomy is a permanent long-term family planning method for individuals and couples that have decided not to have anymore children. She said Vasectomy, has also been endorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service (GHS), as a safe and effective permanent method of contraception. Dr. Odoi-Agyarko said the Ministry of Health and its partners in the health sector have recognized the importance of men in reproduction and the need for male friendly services.

She also called for the support of all stakeholders and the need to attain high standards and utilization of the services, adding that the role of the media in providing accurate information to the public was very crucial.

Dr Isaiah Ndong, Regional Director of Engender Health, West Africa, said Vasectomy use is lower in Africa than in any other region of the world, because of the misconception that the operation is 'castration," especially when translated into the local dialects.

He said the fears that the operation could result in lack of sex drive, poor sexual performance, decrease strength and loss of manliness had made the campaign more difficult.

Dr. Ndong urged health care providers to devote little or no attention to Vasectomy when discussing family planning options with clients, adding that this often resulted from the professional's lack of knowledge and personal dislike of Vasectomy about what men think and want.