Working in PHC, or HIV/AIDS or MCH?

Consider signing up for Family Health Research, a newsletter designed to promote the use of evidence-based practices in reproductive health programs.

Each issue examines a key topic in reproductive health care – The current issue of the newsletter describes efforts to develop a safe, effective, and acceptable vaginal microbicide to prevent HIV. You will find it at: http://www.fhi360.org/resource/effectiveness-and-safety-tenofovir-gel-antiretroviral-microbicide-prevention-hiv-infectio-0

The newsletter is published by Family Health International. Together with its partners, it is working with women throughout the world to test a variety of candidate microbicides, including antiretroviral-based products such as tenofovir gel.

Women have an especially high risk of HIV infection because of biologic susceptibility, economic dependence on their male partners, and difficulties negotiating condom use in their sexual relationships. A method of HIV prevention that a woman could control, such as a vaginal microbicide, could help overcome some of these disparities and save many lives.

To order a hard copy of the issue, please send a request to publications@fhi.org.

Related Articles

  • The Guide to Online Learning, new edition

    A new 5th edition of Bryan Walker’s plain-speaking, straightforward guide to the world of online learning is now available for download from our Library. This book will help you plan your own study programme. It provides strategies to overcome problems, techniques to reinforce the learning process, and support for those wishing to embark on a research project.

  • Social Centre For Humanitarian Services, Agriculture And Environmental Protection (SCHAEP)

    Social Centre for Humanitarian services, Agriculture and Environmental Protection (SCHAEP) development program [ History ] [ Purpose ] [ Objectives ] [ Activities ] [ Partners ] HISTORY OF THE ORGANISATION Liberalization in Cameroon’s economy has led to the abandonment of farmers to unscrupulous market forces – forced to buy expensive farm inputs and sell their produce at giveaway prices. SCHAEP was launched as a capacity-building organization to assist farmers in Kumba to control, manage and benefit from the proceeds of their labour. As members of the community living the experience, the following problems were diagnosed by SCHAEP’s working team: Lack of organization amongst the farmers and hence poor communication. Poor sales of agricultural products due to lack of common markets. High cost of farm inputs as a result of individual purchase as opposed to less costly group purchase. Farmers’ reluctance to modernize traditional farming methods. Inability to resolve boundary problems amicably. Poor management of the farms’ hard-earned proceeds. Lack of knowledge re diversification of resources to generate more income at the end of production season. Rapid population growth due to migration from other villages for fertile lands. Poor hygienic conditions both at home and on the farms. PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION (MISSION) SCHAEP aims to teach, train and organize the farms into common initiative groups through which they can better manage their agricultural products to their benefit. SCHAEP further seeks to empower the farmers physically, morally, and financially so that they can later on solve their own problems. OBJECTIVES To assist communities in the villages by building their capacity on how to live and work in common initiative groups, in order to strengthen their bargaining position over sales of their produce and purchase of farm inputs. Train members of common initiative groups in the need for good governance and accountability. Educate the common initiative groups on individual management of resources. Teach the farmers nutrition and hygiene. Establish a school outreach program on environmental protection through tree planting and formation of clubs. Advocate and lobby for programs that will help the public and members of common initiative groups. Give assistances to widows and their children. Increase farm yields and raise the standard of living. PLANNED ACTIVITIES Create more common initiative groups in the village and neighbouring villages. Inform members of the market trend of their produce. Plant trees in schools. Train farmers on management, leadership and accountability in running and managing a common initiative group. Support widows and their children in vocational institutions. Carry out vision education in the community and schools. COLLABORATION WITH OTHER INSTITUTIONS SCHAEP works with farmers irrespective of race, colour and religion, and with quarter and village heads, which are auxiliary of government. SCHAEP volunteers are available to other organizations for further training. SCHAEP also seeks volunteers to work with its programs.

  • Books go into the field

    We recently offered some printed materials to our registered users (the OXFAM Gender Training manual, Stepping Stones training package on HIV/AIDS, and a set of French flannelgraphs for health education). The three NGOs who received them were: CISS in Kisumu, Kenya, an NGO that works with communities, increasing their participation in the democratic process, in community-managed development etc. People in Need , An NGO in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka funded by the Czech Republic, working to rebuild physical and social structures after the Tsunami. The Pemba Island Relief Organisation (PIRO) Tanzania which has a small resource centre for local NGOs and supports CBOs working to strengthen Sexual Reproductive Health Information & Services. Does your own NGO have materials that you really do not use? You could circulate a list to the members of NGO groups to which you belong, offering a loan or a swop. Unused Manuals and other materials are wasted resources.