Life-saving reproductive health services and gender-based violence care provided in Kachin State
In hard-to-reach areas of Kachin State like Moe Guang and Waing Maw townships communities have very limited access to basic health care, and women of reproductive age are particularly affected. To ensure that life-saving reproductive health services are accessible and available to both displaced and local populations in these areas, Health Cluster partners UNFPA and Myanmar Medical Association (MMA) have joined forces on a project addressing these key health needs. To date, 3,099 women and 495 men have accessed reproductive health services, which include family planning, health education and emergency referrals through mobile health clinics and health facilities. Of this total, 857 women have received antenatal and postnatal care, and 400 Clean Delivery kits have been distributed to pregnant women.
Funded by the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), this project prioritizes strengthening the capacity of health staff to deliver quality reproductive health care. Training and on-the-job orientation on the Minimum Initial Service Package (a set of key activities needed to respond to reproductive health needs during crises and emergencies) and on the use of Emergency Reproductive Health kits have provided MMA health staff from Waing Maw and Moe Gaung Township Hospitals with the skills and tools to better address the reproductive health needs of women in these communities.
Prevention and response to the consequences of sexual violence is also an essential and life-saving component of reproductive health interventions. From 25th to 27th May 2016, UNFPA held a ‘Clinical Management of Rape Treatment and Gender-Based Violence Workshop’ in Myitkyina, for 30 Government Health Staff including doctors, nurses and midwives from surrounding townships, in close coordination with the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) sub-sector. Topics covered included the management of gender-based violence cases and the review of reproductive health kits, how to set-up clinics and provide support to GBV survivors, the administration of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and how to treat rape survivors at clinics.
Daw Nan Sint Sint Khaing, who attended the workshop, has worked as a nurse for four years and is now at Waing Maw Township Hospital. “During the workshop, we learned how to treat and support rape survivors. We were able to share our experiences and learn from each other. Returning to work, I feel confident to put what I have learned into practice.”