Malanivosa Colati says an issue of concern from Nairai District was the number of married women taking contraceptive implants on their arms without the knowledge of their husbands.

Mr Colati raised the issue to the Minister for Health and Medical Services Ifereimi Waqainabete during a talanoa session after the opening of the Lomaiviti Provincial Council meeting in Nasova, Levuka yesterday.

A contraceptive implant is placed under the skin of the upper arm.

The implant typically suppresses ovulation in a female.

Mr Colati said this was a concern that had been raised through the bose va koro (village meeting), bose ni tikina (district meeting) and now in the bose ni yasana (provincial council meeting).

“Our concern is that the number of school students in the district has significantly dropped,” he said.

“When we investigated we found out that a good number of the women in our district have the family planning device injected in the arm, this is the device that stops them from having a baby.”

“The fathers or their husbands did not even know, they were surprised.”

He said the majority had the implant made when they were in Suva to give birth.

“We try and tell them to discuss with their husbands first.”

“At least to talk about it and make sure they are in agreement,” he said.

Health Minister Responds Dr Waqainbete said it was important that a married couple discuss the implications of the implant before it was taken.

“It makes sense that they should try as much as possible to involve both parties so they are well aware of the issue,” he said.

“The couple need to both understand the impact of the decision to do family planning.”

“The ministry as much as possible needs to speak to both couples on the awareness and when they agree whether it’s a tablet or the insertion of the family planning device we always recommend they are both well aware.”

The ministry has also been creating more awareness on it.

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