Tuesday, March 24, 2009
What is 3FOR1? Watch our new video, and join us.
Today, EngenderHealth is launching the 3FOR1 campaign urging President Obama and
Congress to commit $1 billion to international family planning programs
in 2010. We're asking you to join us.
Family planning is a basic right. Yet, there are an estimated 201
million women worldwide who want to use it, but can't--they do not have
access. Changing this reality through increased U.S. investment can
bring significant short- and long-term returns: When women and couples
are able to plan their families, they have the chance to have healthier
and better-educated children and more productive lives, which can lead
to more stable and economically strong communities and countries.
President Obama has stated that he wants to change the way the United
States is viewed around the world. One way to demonstrate this is to
commit to improving women's health and welfare through a stepped-up
investment in family planning.
Right now, the U.S. budget for international family planning is not much
higher than it was in 1974, when adjusted for inflation. To keep up with
the large and growing need for family planning, we call on the
President to increase the U.S. contribution to this global effort to
$1 billion. This represents less than one twentieth of 1% of the
proposed 2010 federal budget--less than a penny per day for every American.
Help us ensure international family planning and reproductive health are
top priorities for the U.S. government. Watch EngenderHealth's new video
and write a letter to President Obama calling for $1 billion to be
dedicated to international family planning.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Voice of America Highlights EngenderHealth's Men As Partners® Program
Voice of America, a international radio and television broadcasting service funded by the U.S. Government, profiled EngenderHealth's Men As Partners® program in a broadcast titled “South African Men’s Groups Fight to End Violence, Discrimination Against Women.” You can download an MP3 of the radio broadcast, or read it online.
“This month, women's rights advocates are calling on men and women to join together to fight gender discrimination. They're meeting in New York for the 53rd session of the Committee on the Status of Women [March 2 – 13]. And in South Africa, two NGO's are reaching out to men to help end violence against women. They're also looking at ways to help reduce some of burdens borne by women, like providing almost all of the care for those with HIV/AIDS. From Washington, William Eagle reports.
“Johannesburg community activist Dumisani Rebombo says one out of six men in South Africa commit physical violence against women. Research by Witswatersrand University showed almost one third of sexually experienced women report their first encounter was not consensual.
“Rebombo is an organizer with the Men as Partners outreach group, part of the NGO EngenderHealth.”
Get the rest on Voice of America's web site.
Dumisani has previously appeared on Voice of America's "Healthy Living" television show. You can also hear his story, in his own words, on his digital story on YouTube, along with dozens of other men in our Men As Partners programs around the world.
“This month, women's rights advocates are calling on men and women to join together to fight gender discrimination. They're meeting in New York for the 53rd session of the Committee on the Status of Women [March 2 – 13]. And in South Africa, two NGO's are reaching out to men to help end violence against women. They're also looking at ways to help reduce some of burdens borne by women, like providing almost all of the care for those with HIV/AIDS. From Washington, William Eagle reports.
“Johannesburg community activist Dumisani Rebombo says one out of six men in South Africa commit physical violence against women. Research by Witswatersrand University showed almost one third of sexually experienced women report their first encounter was not consensual.
“Rebombo is an organizer with the Men as Partners outreach group, part of the NGO EngenderHealth.”
Get the rest on Voice of America's web site.
Dumisani has previously appeared on Voice of America's "Healthy Living" television show. You can also hear his story, in his own words, on his digital story on YouTube, along with dozens of other men in our Men As Partners programs around the world.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
International Women's Day 2009 and PAI
Population Action International (PAI), a well-respected partner organization in our field, has profiled one of EngenderHealth's Men As Partners® India videos -- Men Today, Men Tomorrow -- on their "Documentaries That Make A Difference" list for International Women's Day.
About the Video
In India, as in many parts of the world, a woman's increased vulnerability to HIV infection is largely a result of unequal gender roles. Male dominance in relationships, combined with peer pressure and traditional views of masculinity, often interferes with safe sexual practices. Furthermore, in India, rape occurs twice every minute, and nearly half of married men admit to physically abusing their wives. These problems transcend geography, economic status, and culture. Although many programs tackle these issues, they often focus on women and ignore the role of men.
Indian entertainment star Jaaved Jaffri hosts this short film, which uses interviews with HIV-positive men and their families to illustrate how EngenderHealth’s Men As Partners® in Positive Prevention program supports men in preventing HIV transmission.
About the Video
In India, as in many parts of the world, a woman's increased vulnerability to HIV infection is largely a result of unequal gender roles. Male dominance in relationships, combined with peer pressure and traditional views of masculinity, often interferes with safe sexual practices. Furthermore, in India, rape occurs twice every minute, and nearly half of married men admit to physically abusing their wives. These problems transcend geography, economic status, and culture. Although many programs tackle these issues, they often focus on women and ignore the role of men.
EngenderHealth India saw this as an important opportunity. By partnering with local organizations, and adapting the global Men As Partners® (MAP) program, EngenderHealth developed community-based, peer-driven interventions with young men and boys. The results were dramatic: men thoughtfully engaged in discussions, role-playing, and games about gender issues. The MAP workshops created real change in participant’s attitudes toward women. Furthermore, as a gender-related HIV awareness and support program, it is the first of its kind in Asia.
Men Today, Men TomorrowIndian entertainment star Jaaved Jaffri hosts this short film, which uses interviews with HIV-positive men and their families to illustrate how EngenderHealth’s Men As Partners® in Positive Prevention program supports men in preventing HIV transmission.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
International Women's Day: Photo essay from the CHAMPION Project
Ending violence against women and girls is one of this year’s themes for International Women’s Day—celebrated March 8. This goal is central to EngenderHealth’s own mission, every day and everywhere. View a photo essay of men involved with EngenderHealth’s CHAMPION Project in Tanzania who promote gender equity and better health in their communities.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Reproductive Health: Front and Center in Azerbaijan
A recent national conference organized by EngenderHealth demonstrates that reproductive health has become a top priority for the Azerbaijani government. On February 17–18, more than 100 policymakers, health care professionals, and other leaders attended the reproductive health quality improvement conference in Baku. Over the last four years, EngenderHealth has been partnering with the Azerbaijani government (through the ACQUIRE Project) to strengthen its reproductive health systems. The need for better health services is great: Like many former Soviet republics, abortion had been the main method of family planning in Azerbaijan, and contraceptive choice was severely limited.
| “This conference brings reproductive health and family planning issues to a new level among parliamentarians—89% of whom are men and think that reproductive health problems are women’s concerns.” –Malahat Hasanova, member of Parliament | |
Participants in the meeting included four members of the Azerbaijani Parliament, officials from the government’s Ministry of Health (at the national and regional levels), doctors, health care staff, medical school administrators, and representatives of partner organizations. The discussion centered on barriers to care, and the attendees developed an action plan to address these issues.
A centerpiece of the meeting was the government officials’ presentation of a draft of the country’s first reproductive health law, which ensures the right of all Azerbaijanis to high-quality reproductive health care and family planning.
Throughout the process of developing the law and leading up to this meeting, EngenderHealth has emphasized the importance of improving the quality of reproductive health care and family planning, upholding clients’ rights to safe and effective services, and ensuring informed choice and confidentiality. EngenderHealth staff also successfully advocated for the inclusion of contraceptives on the Essential Drug List and helped the government draft the section detailing the country’s contraceptive supply needs. Additionally, EngenderHealth shared its publications on Islam and family planning, its experience working in other Muslim countries, and its expertise in applying evidence-based quality improvement approaches like COPE®.
CHAMPION Project Launches in Tanzania
What can communities do to help men become part of the solution for healthier families? These and other questions were debated at the launch of the EngenderHealth-led CHAMPION Project in Tanzania on February 17. More than 170 guests gathered at the Mövenpick Hotel in Dar es Salaam for the interactive event. The five-year CHAMPION Project, supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), inspires men to become partners and leaders in combating some of the most serious reproductive health challenges in Tanzania, including HIV and AIDS.
“Men have long been acknowledged as providers, central players in the community, and on the world stage. But far less attention has been paid to men’s roles in promoting the health of the family.”
–Robert Cunnane, Director of the USAID Mission in Tanzania
–Robert Cunnane, Director of the USAID Mission in Tanzania
Each invitation for the launch had the message “Be part of the solution” and a puzzle piece, which attendees were asked to bring to the event. At the launch, the puzzle was completed and revealed a photo of a male champion, a man who had taken an active, positive role in promoting health in his family and community. The completed puzzle illustrates that it takes a community to create champions. Other such champions were featured in a photo exhibition spread throughout the venue.
Officiating at the event, the Honorable Samwel Sitta, Speaker of Tanzania’s National Assembly, noted that harmful gender stereotypes had greatly affected the country’s health systems and the health of individual citizens, accelerating the HIV epidemic.
Other attendees included Robert Cunnane, USAID Mission Director in Tanzania; Fatma Hadfidh Mrisho, Executive Chairman of the Tanzania Commission on AIDS; other government officials; and representatives of the donor community and religious organizations.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Our 2008 Annual Report
In our 2008 Annual Report, read about remarkable individuals who, in very different ways, are each transforming the health and lives of those in their communities and planting seeds of hope for tomorrow. Through our work, we are:- Inspiring religious leaders in Azerbaijan to share family planning information with their congregations;
- Healing women in Nigeria who suffer from obstetric fistula;
- Training police officers in South Africa to take a stand against gender-based violence;
- Giving rural girls in Guatemala the opportunity to develop new skills and access health services;
- Helping women in Nepal become peer educators for family planning; and
- Teaching medical professionals in Ethiopia to provide client-focused, high-quality health care.
Download the 2008 Annual Report (PDF, 6.1MB).
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Fistula Care Launches New Web Site
The Fistula Care Project is pleased to announce the launch of its new web site: www.fistulacare.org. Supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Fistula Care is a global leader in building the capacity of developing countries to address fistula, a devastating vaginal injury that affects an estimated 2 million women and girls.
The Fistula Care web site is a comprehensive resource for anyone interested in or working on issues related to fistula and maternal health. Sharing program insights and technical expertise, the web site offers a host of resources and tools, including:
Additionally, detailed information about the project’s on-the-ground, country-specific activities is readily available and will be regularly updated.
The Fistula Care Project is a five-year cooperative agreement funded by USAID and managed by EngenderHealth. The project works to address the enormous backlog of women awaiting life-altering fistula repair, ensuring they receive timely and quality care from trained providers. At the same time, we work to remove barriers to emergency obstetric care that lead to fistula in the first place, so that women in labor get to the right place with the right services at the right time. The project is supporting a network of facilities offering a continuum of services, from emergency obstetric care, referrals, and family planning, to complex fistula repairs and advanced surgical training. Visit www.fistulacare.org for more information or contact us at fistulacare@engenderhealth.org.
The Fistula Care web site is a comprehensive resource for anyone interested in or working on issues related to fistula and maternal health. Sharing program insights and technical expertise, the web site offers a host of resources and tools, including:
- Training guides and curricula
- Communications and social mobilization materials
- Journal articles and presentations
- Technical updates and program reports
- Country-specific updates on current activities
Additionally, detailed information about the project’s on-the-ground, country-specific activities is readily available and will be regularly updated.
The Fistula Care Project is a five-year cooperative agreement funded by USAID and managed by EngenderHealth. The project works to address the enormous backlog of women awaiting life-altering fistula repair, ensuring they receive timely and quality care from trained providers. At the same time, we work to remove barriers to emergency obstetric care that lead to fistula in the first place, so that women in labor get to the right place with the right services at the right time. The project is supporting a network of facilities offering a continuum of services, from emergency obstetric care, referrals, and family planning, to complex fistula repairs and advanced surgical training. Visit www.fistulacare.org for more information or contact us at fistulacare@engenderhealth.org.
Fistula Care lance un nouveau site Internet
Le projet Fistula Care (Soins de la Fistule) a l’honneur d’annoncer le lancement de son nouveau site Internet: www.fistulacare.org. Financé par l’Agence américaine du développement internationale (USAID), Fistula Care est un leader mondial dans le domaine du renforcement de capacité des pays en voie du développement en matière de prévention et traitement de la fistule, une blessure vaginale qui ravage à peu près 2 millions de femmes et filles.
Le site Internet Fistula Care est une ressource compréhensive pour ceux qui s’intéressent à la fistule et la santé maternelle. Ce site Internet servira comme une base d’échange d’information technique et programmatique, en offrant des outils et ressources tels que:
Les informations détaillées des activités du projet Fistula Care sur le terrain ainsi que les activités spécifiques dans chaque pays sont disponibles et seront régulièrement mises-à- jour sur le site Internet.
NB : Actuellement le site Internet n’est pas complètement traduit en français. Cependant certains documents sont disponibles en français, par exemple les outils de formation et de prestation de services, et aussi toutes les présentations de la réunion des partenaires qui a eu lieu à Accra, Ghana en avril 2008.
Le projet Fistula Care est un agrément de coopération financé par l’USAID et géré par EngenderHealth. Le projet œuvre à pallier à une liste d’attente énorme de femmes qui ont besoin de la réparation vitale et transformante de fistule en assurant qu’elles reçoivent le soins de haute qualité à temps et par les agents de santé bien formés. En même temps, nous œuvrons à enlever les barrières aux soins obstétricales d’urgence qui causent la fistule en premier lieu, afin que les femmes, en période d’accouchement, arrivent à la meilleure place et reçoivent les meilleurs services au meilleur moment. Le projet soutient un réseau de structures offrant une gamme de services partant de soins obstétricaux d’urgence, la référence et la planification familiale à la prise en charge de cas de fistule compliquées et la formation avancée de chirurgiens. Pour plus d’information, veuillez visiter le site Internet www.fistulacare.org ou nous contacter à fistulacare@engenderhealth.org.
Le site Internet Fistula Care est une ressource compréhensive pour ceux qui s’intéressent à la fistule et la santé maternelle. Ce site Internet servira comme une base d’échange d’information technique et programmatique, en offrant des outils et ressources tels que:
- Les guides et curricula de formation
- Les matériels de communication et mobilisation sociale
- Les publications et présentations
- Les rapports programmatiques et techniques
- Les mises-à-jour des activités dans les pays
Les informations détaillées des activités du projet Fistula Care sur le terrain ainsi que les activités spécifiques dans chaque pays sont disponibles et seront régulièrement mises-à- jour sur le site Internet.
NB : Actuellement le site Internet n’est pas complètement traduit en français. Cependant certains documents sont disponibles en français, par exemple les outils de formation et de prestation de services, et aussi toutes les présentations de la réunion des partenaires qui a eu lieu à Accra, Ghana en avril 2008.
Le projet Fistula Care est un agrément de coopération financé par l’USAID et géré par EngenderHealth. Le projet œuvre à pallier à une liste d’attente énorme de femmes qui ont besoin de la réparation vitale et transformante de fistule en assurant qu’elles reçoivent le soins de haute qualité à temps et par les agents de santé bien formés. En même temps, nous œuvrons à enlever les barrières aux soins obstétricales d’urgence qui causent la fistule en premier lieu, afin que les femmes, en période d’accouchement, arrivent à la meilleure place et reçoivent les meilleurs services au meilleur moment. Le projet soutient un réseau de structures offrant une gamme de services partant de soins obstétricaux d’urgence, la référence et la planification familiale à la prise en charge de cas de fistule compliquées et la formation avancée de chirurgiens. Pour plus d’information, veuillez visiter le site Internet www.fistulacare.org ou nous contacter à fistulacare@engenderhealth.org.
New York Times: A Preventable Trauma
The New York Times has published a letter from Karen J. Beattie, director of the Fistula Care Project (managed by EngenderHealth), in response to a recent story about obstetric fistula:
"While increasing access to fistula repair surgery restores hope and improves lives, there is no way to stem the rising backlog of fistula cases unless we prevent the injury from occurring in the first place.
"While increasing access to fistula repair surgery restores hope and improves lives, there is no way to stem the rising backlog of fistula cases unless we prevent the injury from occurring in the first place.
"We know what works: increasing access to quality emergency obstetric services and meaningful prenatal care, ensuring the availability of contraception, delaying early marriage and childbirth, and improving education and nutrition to help girls grow and thrive. These actions, combined with stepped-up political will and community engagement, would improve countless lives."
Karen J. Beattie
New York
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