April 14, 2008	Monday	Rabi-us-Sani 7, 1429

MUZAFFARGARH, April 13: Health officials are distributing expired contraceptive `Multi Load Copper T’ among women which can be dangerous for their health.

This correspondent has observed lady health workers (LHWs) and lady health visitors (LHVs) distributing expired multi load copper T among women. There are 71 basic health units (BHUs) and 13 rural health centres (RHCs) in Muzaffargarh district.

An LHV told Dawn that district health officials had ordered them to distribute the contraceptive among women.

She said the contraceptive had become poison and caused death.

She claimed that the contraceptive was issued by health department clerk Aslam on the orders of the executive district officer and the district health officer (DHO).

The multi load copper T, are distributed free of cost while its price ranges from Rs200 to Rs250 at private medical stores.

This family planning stock came to health department in 2006 and it was not distributed among women while its expiry date was April 5, 2008. After the expiry date, the contraceptive was issued to LHVs and LHWs for distribution.

A health official said the contraceptive had been purchased from foreign countries for family planning department with the help of UNFPA and other donor agencies. One multi load copper T can control birth for two years.

When contacted both DHO Ashiq Malik and the EDO (health) said they had no information about the issuance of the expired product.