2002 Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights / Training
PARTNER
Noor al Hussein Foundation (NHF) – Institute for Family Health (IFH)
WHERE
Sweileh, Amman (Jordan)
BACKGROUND
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has a population of approximately 6 million people, with an annual population growth rate of 2.1 %. The Sweileh neighborhood is one of the poorest in Amman. It has a population of about 65,000 inhabitants, of which 25 per cent live below the poverty line, on less than 1 euro a day. The rapid population growth is the most significant challenge to sustainable socio-economic development, and the fragile natural resource base is an underlying cause for poverty, unemployment and economic disparities. The total fertility rate declined from 7.3 children per woman in 1976 to 3.15 in 2007, also due to a significant rise of age at first marriage since the 1990s. However, birth intervals are becoming shorter and the incidence of contraceptive use (56%) has not changed over the last 10-15 years. (UNFPA, State of the World Population 2007). At primary health care level, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has established a widely accessible system of mother and child health and family planning services and is trying to increase the quality of and access to services and counselling for women. However, the integration of such services into the public health system has not reached desired levels. Also, the access to other RH services, such as HIV/AIDS testing, counselling and treatment for reproductive tract infections and STIs, is still limited. Preventive services like pap-smears and breast exams are not provided by primary health care centers. Standards and protocols, especially those covering high-risk pregnancies and RH concerns, have not been operationalized.
GOALS
The project has upgraded the Institute for Family Health (IFH) and in addition to the services offered to children, since 2002 has been offering a wide range of reproductive health services. Through the Women’s Health Counselling Center, it provides: women’s health care and preventive services, including detection and primary care of gynecological problems, ultrasound examinations, detection of breast and cervical cancer, advice and treatment for menopausal women, ante and post-natal counselling, information and contraceptive counselling. Adolescents access the clinic for counselling and treatment; Psychological counselling for women and adolescents victims of domestic violence, suffering from stress, anxiety and with problems related to adolescence; Social counselling to individual and couple. Advice regarding income generation activities and employment opportunities is provided to women in economic difficulties; Legal counselling regarding a wide range of legal issues, including Islamic law, marital law and domestic violence, labor rights; Program for men involvement in RH and gender issues; Community-based educational workshops on reproductive health, social, legal and psychological issues; Referral system for those cases beyond the IFH capacity; Training activities for institutions and organizations working in RH. The IFH acts as a training center for the Ministry of health staff on psychological and social subjects.
BENEFICIAIRES
Every year the IFH provides its services to more than 10,000 people including women, men, adolescents and children.
AIDOS ACTIVITIES
AIDOS is the executing agency, coordinates the project and is responsible for providing technical and professional advice to the implementing agency; organizes field missions of international staff and on-the-job training activities. It monitors the progress of the project according to its stated objectives. AIDOS is also responsible for the financial management of the project.
EXPECTED RESULTS
– 32 people, including medical and paramedical staff, consultants, educators and administrative staff were trained and work in the Center
– over 10,000 people use the various services every year
– more than 3. 000 women, men and children benefit from awareness campaigns
PROJECT DURATION
February 2002- January 2006
COST OF THE PROJECT
Yearly Costs: € 115,000.00
WHO IS FINANCING THE PROJECT
European Commission, UNFPA, IFH, USAID, AIDOS, The Region of Sardinia (Italy), American Cancer Society, Freedom House, Users’ fees.
Women’s Health Counselling Center Factsheet