Assessing where USAID could best respond to HIV prevention in the Central Asia Republics, and suggesting gaps in knowledge so as to plan effective interventions.
Working to build capacity in five NGOs in Ukraine to conduct behavior change interventions. We conducted site visits to monitor how effectively the NGOs were developing and implementing the behavior change model (CDC Community Demonstration Project) in their outreach efforts with IDUs and sex workers. In March 2001 IMPACT Project staff conducted two one-day workshops focused on enhancing outreach and counseling. IMPACT also jointly conducted two half-day workshops with JHU/PCS to assist the NGOs in planning income-generating activities to boost current funding levels.
Translating into Russian and disseminating technical articles and other instructional materials from leading public and reproductive health journals on topics that address the needs of practitioners in the former Soviet Union. The topics covered include HIV/AIDS/STD, adolescents and reproductive health, women's reproductive rights, maternal and child health, new contraceptive methods, expanding access to contraceptive services, current research findings, major modern contraception methods (including oral contraceptives, IUDs, injectable contraceptives and condoms). We distributed thousands of copies of these articles to organizations and individuals throughout the region.
Co-sponsoring a 1998 symposium on "The Determinants of the HIV/AIDS Epidemics in Eastern Europe" with UNAIDS and the François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights of the Harvard School of Public Health. The symposium was held in Vayrier de Lac, France, and included participants from Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Krygystan, Lithuania, the Russian Federation and Ukraine. The resulting report from this symposium was published in Russian and English and disseminated worldwide.
FHI's Work in CAR countries
FHI's HIV/AIDS and family health efforts in the CAR region included provided training and delivering presentations. Here are some examples of our work in particular countries over the last decade:
In April 1996, we conducted a 12-day training in Almaty, Kazakstan, for 20 physicians. The training curriculum included contraceptive technology (including emergency contraception, postpartum contraception, LAM, STDs/AIDS, and infection prevention), and counseling.
FHI participated in a November 1995 UNFPA-funded reproductive health conference in Kostanay Oblast. Our presentations included Quality of Care, Highlights from the Cairo Conference, and WHO Guidelines in Service Delivery.
FHI conducted a five-day workshop on the development of qualitative research strategies as part of the UNFPA regional programme, in August 1995.
FHI conducted a 1994 assessment of NGOs in Karagandy Oblast to measure capacity to collaborate on reproductive health information and communication projects in areas affected by radiation exposure.
FHI conducted two nine-day training events in Osh, Kyrgyzstan, in 1996. Twenty paraprofessionals in contraceptive technology participated in this first-ever training for Kyrgyzstani paraprofessionals in clinical family planning skills, and the Ministry of Health issued a decree permitting these trainees to practice their new skills.
Also in 1996, FHI conducted two nine-day training activities in Osh, Kyrgyzstan, for obstetricians/gynecologists (Ob/Gyns) in contraceptive technology and counseling. The participating Ob/Gyns will supervise the paraprofessionals we trained earlier.
FHI trained four integrated teams of five health care providers in trainers techniques, contraceptive technology, counseling and clinical skills for the participating Ob/Gyns.
FHI provided financial support for the Ministry of Health's 1995 National Seminar for Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
FHI made presentations in 1994 on Reducing Maternal Morbidity and the Role of Family Planning and Increasing Access to Contraception at a national seminar commemorating the International Year of the Family.
FHI's IMPACT Project provided technical expertise to USAID/Kiev in developing design options for an HIV/AIDS/STD program for at-risk, difficult-to-access populations. We identified options to implement an HIV/AIDS/STD intervention focused on harm reduction for IDUs and prevention of HIV/STDs among high-risk populations including commercial sex workers and the sexual partners of IDUs.
FHI assessed NGOs already working in Odessa, Mykolaiv and Poltava, to identify priority areas for program development and institutional strengthening. In partership with Johns Hopkins University, we provided two rounds of training for NGOs in behavior change communication and intervention techniques.
FHI conducted a nine-day training in Karshi, Uzbekistan, in 1996, for seven general practitioners and 10 pediatricians on contraceptive technology (including emergency contraception, postpartum contraception, LAM, STDs/AIDS, and infection prevention), counseling, clinical skills, and training of trainers. We provided the same curriculum in a 12-day training that year for 12 Ob/Gyns in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
