Reproductive health

Two respected international organisations have published guidelines for the integration of a key aspect of HIV prevention into reproductive health services. The guidelines a can be downloaded from the IPPF website and that of UNFPA. http://www.ippf.org/ http://www.unfpa.org/

This conference is being held under the auspices established of the newly created African Federation for Sexual Health and Rights (Federacion Africaine Pour La Sante Et Les Droits Sexuels)and is being hosted by the Southern African Sexual Health Association (SASHA) alongside with its first congress. The conference has received the endorsement of the World Association for sexology (WAS) The conference hopes to bring together experts in the area of sexuality, sexual health and sexual rights as well as other stakeholders representing governments, united nations agencies, academia, regional organizations, civil-society organizations, women, young people, providers, educators and religious persons. This conference will enable sharing of innovative programmes, dissemination of research findings, alliance building, networking and review of situation of sexual health and rights in Africa, ten years after ICPD. The conference is planned to have plenary sessions, symposia, roundtable discussions and exhibition. For further information on this conference please contact: Andrew Obserholzer Conference Project Manager nicole@fronthierpr.co.za SASHA P.O. Box 662 PAULSHOF, 2056 Tel: +2711 4782969 Fax +2711 4782950 +27 836160162 (mobile) Uwem U. Esiet African Federation for Sexual Health and Rights info@actionhealthinc.org Action Health Incorporated 17, Lawal Street, Jibowu Lagos, Nigeria 231-1-7743745 234-804-216-0442 (Mobile)

DISTRICT SUPPORT AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CLUSTER

The overall goal of the District Support and Community Development cluster is to provide technical support to district health management teams by strengthening the
district health and primary health care systems, to facilitate efficient and effective health services that ensure improved health outcomes...More

HEALTHLINK CLUSTER

The overall goal of the HealthLink cluster is to disseminate knowledge.

Abstract: Health research generates knowledge that can be utilized to improve health system performance and, ultimately,health and health equity. We propose a conceptual framework for health research systems (HRSs) that defines their boundaries, components, goals, and functions. The framework adopts a systems perspective towards HRSs and serves as a foundation for constructing a practical approach to describe and analyse HRSs. The analysis of HRSs should, in turn, provide a better understanding of how research contributes to gains in health and health equity. In this framework, the intrinsic goals of the HRS are the advancement of scientific knowledge and the utilization of knowledge to improve health and health equity. Its four principal functions are stewardship, financing, creating and sustaining resources, and producing and using research. The framework, as it is applied in consultation with countries, will provide countries and donor agencies with relevant inputs to policies and strategies for strengthening HRSs and using knowledge for better health.

Publication Webpage http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/81/11/en/pangwa1103.pdf

African women are 175 times more likely to die in childbirth than women in developed regions of the world Geneva - New findings on maternal mortality by WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA show that a woman living in sub-Saharan Africa has a 1 in 16 chance of dying in pregnancy or childbirth. This compares with a 1 in 2,800 risk for a woman from a developed region. These findings are contained in a new global report on maternal mortality released today online by the three agencies as Adobe PDf file (40 pp. 733 kB) at: http://www.childinfo.org/maternal_mortality_in_2000.pdf Of the estimated 529,000 maternal deaths in 2000, 95 per cent occurred in Africa and Asia, while only 4 per cent (22,000) occurred in Latin America and the Caribbean, and less than one per cent (2,500) in the more developed regions of the world. Experience from successful maternal health programmes shows that much of this death and suffering could be avoided if all women had the assistance of a skilled health worker during pregnancy and delivery, and access to emergency medical care when complications arise. The maternal mortality ratio, which measures the number of deaths to women per 100,000 lives births due to pregnancy-related complications, was estimated to be 400 per 100,000 live births globally in 2000. By region, it was highest in Africa (830), followed by Asia - excluding Japan (330), Oceania - excluding Australia and New Zealand (240), Latin America and the Caribbean (190) and the developed countries (20). Worldwide, 13 developing countries accounted for 70 per cent of all maternal deaths. The highest number occurred in India where 136,000 women died, followed by Nigeria where there were 37,000 deaths. The use of skilled attendants at delivery in developing countries increased between 1990 and 2000 from 42 to 52 per cent, suggesting a potential decrease in maternal deaths. Findings show the greatest improvements in South East Asia and Northern Africa and the slowest change in sub Saharan Africa, which went from 40 per cent in 1990 to 43 per cent in 2000. Most maternal deaths and disability occur as the result of one or more of three delays: a delay in recognizing complications; a delay in reaching a medical facility; or a delay in receiving good quality care. Efforts to address these delays are essential in order to save the lives of mothers and babies. Education on family planning and the provision of family planning services of high quality can also make a difference. As the focal agencies within the United Nations system for the health of women and children, WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA pledge to enhance - both individually and jointly in collaboration with their partners - their efforts in assisting countries strengthen their maternal health programmes. (Source: Claudio Shuftan, AFRONETS 20 October 2003)

The year 2003 marks the 10th anniversary of the Reproductive Health Priorities Conference. Each year since 1993 the RHRU has brought together a range of stakeholders, including academics, researchers, service providers and policy makers to present, discuss and debate sexual and reproductive health (SRH) priorities in South Africa and the Region. This year an historic milestone of ten years has been reached, and the conference presentations will include overviews of the evolution of SRH research and priorities over the past ten years. Current issues that continue to challenge us ten years on will be presented, debated and discussed. The conference covers all aspects of sexual and reproductive health.

Neglect and under-funding of adolescents' sexual and reproductive health needs are some of the problems perpetuating the spread of HIV/Aids, other sexually transmitted diseases and early pregnancy. This is according to the State of World Population 2003 report released in Pretoria today. The theme of the report, Making 1 Billion Count: Investing in Adolescents' Health and Rights, aims to highlight the challenges and risks faced by adolescents regarding HIV/Aids. The report states that 50% of the world's population is under 25 years of age and they face the risks to their health and well-being. These include the HIV/Aids pandemic ravaging the world. The report points out that investing in young people will yield generous returns for generations to come. However, most often than not, they are exposed to sexually explicit images. Yet they lack basic information on reproductive health and how to protect themselves from early pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. The report explores the underlying assumptions about the disease, showing that youths who have lost parents due to HIV/Aids, are particularly vulnerable to the infection themselves. Some of the recommendations it highlights are that there should be adequate educational programmes, information and health services for young people. It also recommends that more money should be channeled into reproductive health programmes. Source: (SABC October 08, 2003). Read the full story in the State of the World Population 2003 report- http://www.unfpa.org/swp/swpmain.htm

Sout Africa, like the rest of sub-Saharan Africa, has a scarcity of mortality and morbidity information. The health of a nation depends to a large extent on the quality of the information systems supporting its public health system. Public health surveillance (PHS) is an important component of such an information system.

Date: 24 – 26 March 2003 Venue: Holiday Inn Eastern Boulevard, Cape Town Website: http://www.hst.org.za/conf02/ Hosted by Health Systems Trust & Public Health Association of SA In conjunction with Medical Research Council and The University of the Western Cape. Proposed Sub-themes: --------------------- - Health System Development - Health environment and sustainable development - Equity, Fairness & Justice in Health About the conference --------------------- The Conference seeks to influence the Public Health Agenda in South Africa through presentations, discussions and workshops on key public health topics. It will provide a forum for exchange between local and International public health practitioners and scientists. The conference will also provide a platform for the launch of the new Public Health Association of South Africa (PHASA), which replaces ESSA. Conference Focus ------------------- HEALTH SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT - Improving the delivery of core health programmes and services (HIV/AIDS, STI, TB, Child Health, Maternal Health, Malaria) - District Health Systems development: Establishing the building blocks of an effective delivery system for PHC - Support services: Improving the Health Information, Financial, Transport and Human Resource management systems - Human Resource Development: Challenges and lessons learnt ENVIRONMENT , HEALTH AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - Environmental Health: What is its role in health care delivery and sustainable development? - Poverty: South Africa's biggest epidemic - Globalisation: Threats to global health and local delivery - Water, Sanitation and Hygiene - Work and Health EQUITY, FAIRNESS AND JUSTICE -The measurement and monitoring of health and health care equity gaps across geographic, racial, socio-economic and gender dimensions) - Reducing the public-private gap: challenges and opportunities - Equity as a policy and planning issue: is it receiving a high enough profile? - Health and health care equity as a public issue: how can a public health movement promote health equity as a social value PRE Conference Workshops (Proposed Titles) ------------------------------------------- * DHS : functional integration, the name of the game? * Equity, Fairness and Justice * Health Information Systems * Basic and/or advanced epidemiology * Environmental Epidemiology * Poverty and social support – the role of Public Health * Human Resources in Health – the challenges * Developing a comprehensive HIV/AIDs treatment plan Who should attend ----------------------------- - All concerned about Public Health - All Public Health professionals and interest groups - Health managers and Policy makers - NGOs - Health, social and economic scientists and researchers - Environmental Health scientists and professionals Conference Information ------------------------ Registration Information (Please check web site for deadline dates) Early Registration: R1 200.00 Late/On site Registration R1 400.00 Student Registration:- Early Registration : R 800.00 Late/On site Registration R1 000.00 Pre-Workshop Registration fee: R 500.00 (A limited amount of scholarships will be available. Please mail indabapaarl@mweb.co.za for the requirements) Abstract Information ------------------------------- The abstract registration form with the requirements is on our web site. Please check www.hst.org.za/conf02/ For further information, please contact: Conference Secretariat The New Public Health Conference Indaba Event Management P O Box 2516 Paarl 7620 Tel: +27 21 871 1538 Fax: +27 21 872 6160 E-mail: indabapaarl@mweb.co.za Website: http://www.hst.org.za/conf02/ or http://www.mrc.ac.za/conference/publichealth/

Low-Tech Strategies for Promoting Sexual and Reproductive Health. This is a 12-day intensive course for master trainers within health education programmes. The course addresses the challenges they face in preparing local trainers and educators for health promotion in resource-constrained communities. Human sexuality, behaviour change communication and the nuts and bolts of training are central themes in this course. Participants explore culture-based methodologies for communicating health messages and are supported in their application of these methodologies in sexual and reproductive health education. The course culminates in participants' development and presentation of low-tech teaching aids from common, every-day materials.For further information and registration contact: Ms. Busi Marule, Margaret Sanger Centre International South Africa, P.O. Box 848, Auckland Park 2006, Johannesburg, South Africa, Tel: +27-11-726-1172 Fax: +27-11-726-2424, mailto:info@mscisa.org.za