CONTEXT
When crisis erupted in South Sudan in 2013/2014, thousands of South Sudanese citizens were displaced thereby seeking asylum in neighbouring countries such as Uganda, Kenya, and Ethiopia. In Ethiopia, where this project was implemented, entry points for the refugees was the Gambella region through the Pagak, Akobo, and Tergol Pagak borders. By January 2015, UNHCR reported 192,724 refugee arrivals with an estimated 43,177 registered pre 15th December 2013 in Gambella. Majority of the refugees were reported to be women and children. As a response to the huge numbers penetrating the borders, the Ethiopian Administration of Refugees and Returnees Affairs (ARRA) opened three new camps at Okugu, Lietchour, and Kule making it four camps in the region. It is against this background that the International Medical Corps (IMC) in collaboration with UNHCR wrote a proposal to IPPF through the SPRINT project to support a complementary emergency SRH Interventions for South Sudanese Refugees in Ethiopia. The project was implement-ed in 2 camps; Kule and Tierkidi.
The Sexual and Reproductive Health Programme in Crisis and Post-Crisis Situations (SPRINT) initiative was designed to address gaps in the Minimum Initial Service Package [MISP] for Reproductive Health at the onset of crisis. It has the overall goal of improving health outcomes of crisis affected populations by reducing preventable sexual and repro-ductive health morbidity and mortality. The initiative’s purpose is to increase timely access for crisis affected populations to life-saving sexual and reproductive health services as outlined in the MISP. MISP implementation is premised on five objectives; coordination for implementation of MISP, prevention of sexual violence, reduction of HIV transmission, prevention of excess maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity and a plan for compre-hensive RH services integrated into primary health care. SPRINT uses four approaches; creation of enabling environment to mitigate risk, emergency preparedness through capac-ity development, emergency response and management. The SPRINT initiative is funded by the Australian government, managed by the International Planned Parenthood Federa-tion (IPPF) and implemented by country coordinating teams at national level.