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SAMRAKSHA
has now merged Women's Reproductive Health and Male Sexual
Health into one comprehensive Reproductive and Sexual Health
programme. This programme seeks demonstrate sensitive and
holistic reproductive and sexual health service models in
Bangalore City and Raichur and Koppal districts to advocate
for such services in the mainstream, through training, field
support and supervision of those services.
In collaboration with the University of California,
San Francisco (USA), the programme is starting to examine
links between reproductive health and economics, gender, decision-making
capacity and mobility.
Highlights
2002
One-month Training
programme :
The project team participated in an intensive
one-month training programme covering sex and sexuality; reproductive
and sexual health; gender and sexual power; HIV/AIDS; the
role of counseling, community and ethical issues related
to the collaborative research project; and research methodology.
Male Reproductive and
Sexual Health Clinics :
These have been started in response to requests
from women to offer something for their partners and from
young men for such a service. In addition, the idea is to
increase involvement of men in reproductive and sexual health.
Phase 1 of Research
Begins :
Phase I of the collaborative research with UCSF
began this year with community mapping exercises and mini
Socio-Economic Status Surveys in selected areas of Bangalore
and Koppal Districts.
Group Education programmes
:
New group education programme for married and
adolescent males backed by STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection)
clinics in the community have been initiated.
KEY
LEARNINGS:
 Men
have expressed that they are uncomfortable seeking help for
RTI/STI problems within their own community. They prefer to
access services outside the immediate area where they live.
Women
are much more comfortable and relaxed during pelvic examinations
if they have gone through a pre-examination counseling and
information session.
IN
THE PIPELINE...
...
a team of lay counselors and a network of community volunteers
...
capacity building of local medical practitioners for follow
up
...
capacity building of government lab technicians in RTI/STI
diagnosis.
...
rural Well-Woman Clinic services
...
a Positive Women's Clinic
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