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Project name : GEO/00/P01: Support to improve RH Information and Services
Budget: USD 771,856
Timeline: December 2000 - December 2005
What is the situation?
The socio-economic problems and growing poverty that Georgia has faced since the collapse of the Soviet Union have influenced social and health indicators in Georgia significantly. From the early 90s the country entered the long period of transition from being a Soviet Republic to having an autonomous administrative, political economic and socio-cultural system. The ongoing health care reform, which started in 1995, includes among its priorities the decentralization of the health management authority and structural reforms in the civil administration. Because state allocations to the health sector are low, international assistance remains crucial at this stage for improving the status of health of the Georgian population. According to the results of the first nationwide Reproductive Health (RH) survey in Georgia, (1999) which was conducted with the support of UNFPA, USAID and UNHCR, there are obvious differences in RH indicators between central and district levels in Georgia. In particular the rate of abortion in the capital, Tbilisi, is 3.7 while in the remote districts it reaches 4.4. Awareness of family planning methods in Tbilisi is much higher (97.8) than in rural areas (84.6). Current use of family planning methods in Tbilisi is 44.9 against 37.2 in rural areas. One of the major concerns of the Government of Georgia is to improve the access of population in remote districts to quality RH information and services. It is also keen to improve the efficiency of the health statistics system.
What is our mission?
The key strategies of the project are:
- To increase capacity of the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs (MoLHSA) and its regional departments to coordinate RH activities at regional and district levels
- To build the capacity of reproductive health services in regions
- To ensure the equal access of population to RH information and services throughout the country.
How is UNFPA doing this?
The project is composed of several interrelated components:
- Mobile Teams (MT) were set up at three advanced RH Service Centres (in Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi). UNFPA supplied the MTs with vehicles, medical equipment, contraceptives and Information, Education and communication materials. Each team includes four duty members (trained in RH). The MTs organize regular field visits according to an approved schedule, providing the population with quality RH services, disseminating information materials and organizing educational sessions. In addition to population services, MT members conduct in-service training of local RH advisers and general practitioners in contraceptive technology, counselling skills, diagnosis and management of RH disorders, etc. During 2001-2004 MTs operated in 55 districts and provided free RH services to more than 43,000 women. A special follow-up scheme is in the process of development at the MoLHSA to make referral systems and federal programmes more easily accessible for women needing urgent treatment.
- A Population Information, Education and Communication (IEC) strategy, which has three areas of focus:
a) IEC focused on the general population and target groups;
b) IEC focused on health providers;
c) IEC focused on mass media representatives.
Several posters, calendars, IEC booklets and a handbook for RH Service Providers on RH issues have been prepared and printed, a workshop, "RH: Priorities and Problems in Georgia", for mass-media representatives is put together annually. The journalists trained under the project continue to participate in different project activities. A special insert newspaper, "For Healthy Life," devoted to RH issues, was added as a supplement to the newspaper of the NGO "Women of Georgia for Peace and Life".
- Improvement of Management Information System (MIS) of RH services was achieved through the creation of new standard registration forms. Two training sessions on the new forms have been conducted for 52 participants from central, regional and district RH facilities. 300,000 copies of the forms have been printed for distribution throughout the country.
- Training Courses for 520 RH service providers from different regions of Georgia were organized during 2001-2004. A new comprehensive curriculum, including a wide range of RH issues, has been successfully introduced.
- An in-depth investigation of adolescents' views on RH issues is one of the main tools for strengthening adolescents' IEC activities and developing new communication strategies to meet the needs of young people in the country. An Advisory Board, consisting of decision-makers from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs, will advise the government and donor organizations on the basis of the information gathered.
- A Male Reproductive Health Survey, conducted in parallel to the Women's Reproductive Health survey, provides an opportunity to make a comparative analysis and obtain a clearer picture of the state of reproductive health in Georgia. The Male Reproductive Health survey will be conducted in all regions of Georgia and will involve the population of both towns and the villages.
Who are our partners?
How will Georgia benefit?
The project will contribute to the improvement of RH information and services in Georgia in a number of ways:
- By enhancing the access of young people, women and men to quality RH information and services in regions which are poorly served.
- By increasing the capabilities of RH providers as well as RH service centres on a regional and district level
- By increasing awareness and understanding among adolescents about a healthy life style and RH issues.
- Strengthening the Management Information System of the MoLHSA will contribute to the informed policy decisions on RH issues in Georgia allowing to policy makers to allocate national and international sources effectively for the development of this sector.
Contact details:
Tamar Khomasuridze,
Assistant RR, UNFPA Office in Georgia
Tel: (995 32) 25 11 26/28/31 (+142)
khomasuridze@unfpa.org
Prof. Archil Khomasuridze
Director, Zhordania Institute of Human Reproduction
Tel: (995 32) 98 70 87; 99 62 54
Fax: (995 32) 99 81 08
archilk@list.ru
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