Blog Archive
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Mar 16, 2010
Scaling Up Family Planning and Maternal and Child Health Best Practices
I just returned from Bangkok, Thailand where over 400 professionals representing 13 countries in the Asia and Middle East Region came together to wrestle with the complex issue of scaling up family planning and maternal and child health best practices. The USAID Extending Services Project organized this week-long meeting to galvanize country-led efforts to identify, plan for and put in place evidenced-based, cost-effective practices that can greatly reduce maternal, infant and child mortality. I was repeatedly struck by the impressive results being achieved throughout the region, and by the incredible enthusiasm, commitment and courage voiced by our country colleagues – whether it was the Director of the Tamil Nadu, India National Rural Health Mission describing how their government is investing in quality emergency obstetric services; the Deputy Minister of Health of Yemen explaining how they have greatly increased coverage of post-partum family planning; or the Director General for Health Services of the Ministry of Health of Nepal sharing their experience in supporting over 48,000 community health workers who offer key maternal and child health interventions that... Read More » -
Mar 8, 2010
Salute to Women Health Workers
I salute the Women of the world today on the occasion of International Women’s Day 2010. As we mark the day, I cannot resist to make reference to Dr. Mahmoud F. Fathalla, a renowned Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, who eloquently stated that:
“…Maternal deaths in developing countries are often the ultimate tragic outcome of the cumulative denial of women's human rights. Women are not dying because of untreatable diseases. They are dying because societies have yet to make the decision that their lives are worth saving...”
A food for thought as we "celebrate."
SALUTE to Women Health Workers!
—Uche Ekenna, IntraHealth Senior Program Manager
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Mar 8, 2010
Gender Equality at IntraHealth on International Women's Day
IntraHealth is committed to promoting gender equality as an integral part of development, recognizing that if gender-based disparities and inequalities are not addressed in human resources development and health service delivery, they may undermine the achievement of health program, service and development objectives. Gender differences and inequalities are embedded in structural inequalities that translate into unequal opportunities for education, economic development, access to health care and ultimately, unequal access to good health based on gender. IntraHealth works with partners, clients, state institutions, policy makers and civil society to develop appropriate strategies to eliminate gender-based discrimination, gender-based violence and gender-based barriers to service access, use and quality. IntraHealth’s gender strategy, which we adapt to local needs and opportunities, has three major components: End discrimination and promote equal opportunity and treatment in employment, training and education in human resources (HR) projects to address women’s often more vulnerable position in the labor market. Respond to gender-based violence.... Read More »
