Welcome to the October issue of World Vasectomy Day’s Newsletter!
The early years of my work with WVD were characterized by a giant vision that was constrained by low resources, but buoyed by the dedication, creativity, and incredibly long hours put in by a small, under-paid staff that fervently believed in what we were doing.
Manifesting the cascade of disruptive, idealistic, and outrageous stunts our story-telling leader, Jonathan Stack, invented daily, from a huge billboard on a main road in Kenya inviting men to call for a free vasectomy, to a live vasectomy projected in a busy business district at rush hour, (where the crowd could ask questions of the doctor or patient during the procedure!), to a giant health fair at a national monument in the heart of Mexico City complete with vasectomies given on the spot in three mobile units, at the same time on a huge stage at the foot of the monument there were bands, speeches, and even a lucha libre fight, WVD has always made a big splash in each country that has hosted our annual events.
There is an archive of hundreds of films WVD has made over the years, some of which explain vasectomy, some of which are compilations of the impacts WVD has had wherever we go, including testimonials from many sincere men who had vasectomies as an act of love for their partners and families. We’ve trained young filmmakers, hosted doctor training, started vasectomy programs where there were none, and engaged the public in each place we visit.
There are many more activities I could cite, but this mixing of media-worthy events and actual procedures done by a growing circle of extraordinary providers (please see this issue’s interview with Dr. Ramchandra Murti Kaza for a profile of one of our most admired supporters), is what sets WVD apart from other reproductive health organizations, and why many of them want to collaborate with us.
As we look to the future, we hope more of you will be inspired to participate, lead, or contribute to the energy and scope of the WVD project. Please join us as we mature into a wider movement, including more countries, more clinics, and an ever grander vision!