THE ROLE OF NGOS ON INTEGRATING GENDER IN RH PROGRAMS AND POLICIES

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THE ROLE OF NGOS ON INTEGRATING GENDER IN RH
PROGRAMS AND POLICIES INSIGHTS FROM THE FAMILY
PLANNING ORGANIZATION OF THE PHILIPPINES (FPOP)
ATTY. RHODORA M. ROY-RATERTA Executive Director,
FPOP Chair 2006, Reproductive Health Advocacy
Network (RHAN) Member, NGO Sectoral Council,
Phil. National Anti-Poverty Commission
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FPOP COMING FULL CIRCLE FROM 1969 TO 2006

• Established 37 years ago to provide FP services
  and engage government in various ways/leaders
  took the brave stance to promote small family
  size (affiliated with the International Planned
  Parenthood Federation established by women with
  battle cry Brave and Angry)
• Innovated in service delivery and IEC
• Enhanced advocacy initiatives/adopted rights
  based approach/gender in advocacy (Charter on
  Sexual and Reproductive Rights)

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FPOP COMING FULL CIRCLE

• Partnered with media, business and other sectors
• Have strong presence in networks and other
  alliances including National Anti Poverty
  Commission
• Helping bridge gap between supply and demand
  (with Quality of Care) in 25 chapters/33
  clinics/outreach
• Taking brave stance in all aspects of its work
  (RH and the 5 As)
• Utilizing the Law for Womens Rights What Women
  Ask

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FPOP GENDER AND RH THRU THE YEARS

• In the late 1990s, incorporated Gender
  Sensitivity Workshops for HR development of
  program managers and community workers
• In 2000, purposively searched for a woman
  Executive Director after 30 years from its
  establishment
• In 2002, National Council approved VAWC referral
  policies in clinics

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FPOP GENDER AND RH THRU THE YEARS

• In 2004, approved amendments to By Laws making
  chapter representation in the National Council as
  at least 1 woman out of 2 possible
  representatives
• Youth Reps in National and Local
  Councils/Executive Committees at least 50 women
• In 2005, created Gender Committee in National
  Council

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FPOP GENDER AND RH THRU THE YEARS

• Building community organizing efforts/Free Choice
  Couples/Male Involvement/Youth Groups
• Youth/Teen Centers
• Issues on religion, gender RH studied
• Quality of Care with a Gender Perspective
• Women and Childrens Alternative Center in Surigao

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FPOP GENDER AND RH THRU THE YEARS

• Lighting a Torch for Womens Rights
• Enhancing Media Awareness on Beijing Platform of
  Action for Women
• Advocacy for Legislative Measures on RH, Magna
  Carta for Women, Anti-Discrimination for Women in
  Vulnerable Situations
• Strong lobby against delisting of contraceptives
  in Bureau of Food Drug

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The Policy Environment for Gender and RH
Problems in Policy Making

• Public policy to rationalize and make available
  reproductive health services is wanting.
• Bending to pressures from the Church, government
  flip flops/reverses on its stand on FP
• No comprehensive national law on RH

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RECENT MAJOR POLICIES IMPACTING ON GENDER, SRH
and RIGHTS ONE STEP FORWARD TWO STEPS BACKWARD

• Cheers! Reaffirmation by the Government of the
  Philippines of its commitment to the Program of
  Action of the ICPD, Jeers GMA Sept 2005 UN
  message
• Wow! Government puts in place RH as another
  target for the MDGs. Pow_at_ How? With
  Presidential statements on preference for NFP?
• Claps! 2006 General Appropriations Bill of HOR
  now includes 50 million peso budget for modern
  methods of contraception. Zapped!! 2005 budget

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RECENT MAJOR POLICIES IMPACTING ON GENDER,SRH
and RIGHTS ONE STEP FORWARD TWO STEPS BACKWARD

• Good? Approval of Administrative Order 158 of the
  Department of Health on Contraceptive
  Self-Reliance (CSR) due to USAID phasedown. Worst
  nightmare - stockouts

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Gap in the Law
G A P
Present Policy Environment (Not enough, Ambiguity
due to Conflicts between the Constitution, the
Local Government Code and the Family Code)
Enhanced Quality of Life through RH
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Meet Elsa
? married at 16
? poor, sickly
? lacks info/education on RH/FP services
? beaten and raped by her husband
? HIV positive
? dead at 32
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(No Transcript)
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Human Rights

• All human rights are universal, indivisible,
  independent and interrelated. The international
  community must treat human rights globally in
  fair and equal mannerWhile the significance of
  national and regional particularitiesit is the
  duty of the States to promote and protect all
  human rights and fundamental freedoms.

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Knowing Ones Rights

• Inherent to every human being are the rights
  s/he is born with, including the right to LIFE,
  LIBERTY and PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.
• The Phil. Constitution of 1987 provides equal
  protection for women and men

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Womens Rights are Human Rights!!!
the human rights of women and girl child are
inalienable, integral and indivisible part of
human rights - Vienna Declaration, UN World
Conference of Human Rights, 1993
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The Right to Health
? many domestic legislation on reproductive
health could be anchored on and where issues
could be discussed dispassionately and
objectively
? 2 provisions in the Local Government Code are
already put in place but only a few LGUs
implement them
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The Right to Information
The Philippine government must therefore ensure
that no person shall be discriminated against in
their access to information, education and health
care or services related to reproductive health,
rights and needs, throughout their life span, on
the grounds of gender, age, sexual orientation,
marital status, religion or mental and physical
disability
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The 12 Sexual Repro Rights

• Right to Life which means among other things
  that no womans life should be put at risk by
  reason of pregnancy

• Right to Liberty Security which recognizes
  that no person should be subject to female
  genital mutilation, forced pregnancy,
  sterilization or abortion

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The 12 Sexual Repro Rights

• Right to Equality to be Free from All Forms of
  Discrimination including in ones sexual and
  reproductive life

• Right to Privacy meaning that all sexual and
  reproductive health care services should be
  confidential, and all women have the right to
  autonomous reproductive choices

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The 12 Sexual Repro Rights

• Right to Freedom of Thought which includes
  freedom from the restrictive interpretation of
  religious texts, beliefs, philosophies and
  customs as tools to curtail freedom of thought on
  sexual and reproductive health care and other
  issues

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The 12 Sexual Repro Rights

• Right to Information Education as it relates
  to sexual and reproductive health for all,
  including access to full information on the
  benefits, risks, and effectiveness of all methods
  of fertility regulation, in order that all
  decisions taken are made on the basis of full,
  free and informed consent

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The 12 Sexual Repro Rights

• Right to Choose Whether or Not to Marry to
  Found and Plan a Family which includes the right
  of persons to protection against a requirement to
  marry without his/her consent and the right to
  reproductive health care services

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The 12 Sexual Repro Rights

• Right to Decide Whether or When to have Children
  which includes the right of persons to decide
  freely responsibly the number and spacing of
  their children and to access to information and
  education

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The 12 Sexual Repro Rights

• Right to Heath Care and Health Protection which
  includes the right of health care clients to the
  highest possible quality of health care and the
  right to be free from traditional practices which
  are harmful to health

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The 12 Sexual Repro Rights

• Right to the Benefits of Scientific Progress
  which includes the right of sexual and
  reproductive health services clients to new
  reproductive health technologist which are safe,
  effective and acceptable

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The 12 Sexual Repro Rights

• Right to Freedom of Assembly Political
  Participation which includes the right of all
  persons to seek to influence communities and
  government to prioritize sexual and reproductive
  health and rights

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The 12 Sexual Repro Rights

• Right to be Free from Torture Ill-treatment
  including the rights of all women, men and young
  people to protection from violence, sexual
  exploitation and abuse.

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A Gap in Internal and External Policies
Integrating Gender in RH Programs
G A P
Do you respect the rights of the clients? Do you
have sexual harassment policies in place? Are you
gender sensitive?
Enhanced Quality of Life through Gender RH
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Affected Individuals

• single women

• adolescents

• older persons

• men

• children

• differently-abled

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• INTEGRATION OF GENDER, RH AND RR
• IEC on existing laws
• Advocacy for Policies (e.g. HBs 3773,3744,Magna
  Carta for Women)
• Self Regulating policies
• Service Delivery

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INFORMATION, EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION/BEHAVIOR
CHANGE COMMUNICATION/KNOWLEDGE
MANAGEMENT/RESEARCH
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IEC, BCC, KM, Research

• Databasing disaggregated data by sex
• Demographic and Health Surveys
• Health consequences of gender
• Violence against women and children
• Sex Workers (inappropriate term?)
• Health needs thru life cycle
• Sexuality

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MDGs, CEDAW, BPA,ICPD

• MDG 3 promote gender equality and empower women
  
• Target is to eliminate gender disparity in
  primary and secondary education, preferably by
  2005, and to all levels of education no later
  than 2015

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MDGs, CEDAW, BPA,ICPD

• CEDAW and Beijing understand gender-based
  discrimination as simultaneously threatening the
  health of both women and their children and for
  this reason Goal 4 (reduction by 2/3 the
  mortality rate among children under 5) and Goal 5
  (reduction by 3 quarters the maternal mortality
  ratio)

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MDGs, CEDAW, BPA,ICPD

• Depriving women of education and literacy
  opportunities significantly impairs their ability
  to care for their own health and that of their
  children and to ensure proper nutrition
• In some regions, higher levels of infant
  mortality rates have been linked to the cultural
  devaluation of girl children and preferential
  treatment for sons in nutrition and health care

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MDGs, CEDAW, BPA,ICPD

• Maternal mortality is still present brought about
  by various factors including religious and
  cultural beliefs, traditional roles of women in
  the home and shortage of trained medical
  professionals and health centers for deliveries
• Womens access to services hampered by lack of
  economic resources, lack of decision-making power
  and restrictions on their freedom of movement
  outside the home

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CEDAW MD GOALS 4 5

• Eliminate discrimination in the field of health
  care, to ensure equality between men and women in
  access to health care services, including those
  related to FP (Art 12.1)
• Ensure women appropriate services in connection
  with pregnancy, confinement and post-natal period
  granting free services where necessary (Art. 12.2)

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CEDAW MD GOALS 4 5

• Ensure women adequate nutrition during pregnancy
  and lactation (Art 12.2)
• Ensure rural womens right to adequate health
  care facilties, including information,
  counselling and services in FP (Art. 14.2b)
• Eliminate discrimination in education to ensure
  womens access to educ. info to help ensure the
  health and well-being of families including info
  and advice on FP (Art 10.h)

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BPA MD GOALS 4 5

• Increase womens access thru out the life cycle
  to appropriate, affordable and quality health
  care, info and related services (C.1)
• Strengthen preventive programs that promote
  womens health (C.2)
• Undertake gender sensitive initiatives that
  address STDs, HIV/AIDS, RH issues (C.3)
• Promote research and disseminate info on womens
  health (C.4)
• Increase resources and follow up for womens
  health (C.5)
• Eliminate discrimination against girls in health
  and nutrition (L.5)

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ADVOCACY FOR POLICIES IN PARLIAMENTS, MINISTRIES,
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, ETC.
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Terms Used in HB 3773
Reproductive Health the state of complete
physical, mental and social well-being and not
merely the absence of disease or infirmity,in all
matters relating to the reproductive system and
to its functions and processes. This implies
that people are able to have a satisfying and
safe sex life and that women and men attain equal
relationships in matters related to sexual
relations and reproduction.
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Terms Used in HB 3773 and HB 3744
Gender Equality the absence of discrimination
on the basis of a persons sex, in opportunities,
allocation of resources and benefits and access
to service Gender Equity fairness and justice
in the distribution of benefits and
responsibilities between men and women, often
requires women-specific projects and programs to
eliminate existing inequalities, inequities,
policies principles favorable to women
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Terms Used in proposed Magna Carta for Women
Gender and Development definition includes
contends that women are active agents in
development and not just passive recipients of
development assistance Right to be properly
informed of the issues and concerns affecting the
welfare of women and access to comprehensive and
gender sensitive health services such as maternal
and childcare and RH including FP Gender Equality
refers to the recognition of parity in the rights
and entitlements of women and men
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Terms Used in proposed Magna Carta for Women
Gender Equity refers to the policies,
instruments, programs, services and actions that
address the disadvantaged position of women in
society by providing preferential treatment and
affirmative action. Such temporary special
measures aimed at accelerating de facto equality
between men and women shall not be considered
discriminatory but shall in no way entail as a
consequence the maintenance of unequal or
separate standards. These measures shall be
discontinued when the objectives of equality of
opportunity and treatment have been achieved.
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HB 3744

• Gender Empowerment Education (age appropriate and
  culturally sensitive)
• Gender Responsive Standards of Care (manner that
  promotes and respects their right to be treated
  with dignity, privacy and confidentiality,
  informed decision making)
• Equitable Representation of Women in
  Policy-Making Bodies
• Enhancing Economic Self-Reliance and Empowerment

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HB 3744

• Equity and Equality in Welfare Benefits
• Reproductive Health and Equity
• Other women focused health services (medical
  conditions and diseases of girls and women other
  than RH but attributable to gender inequities and
  inequalities)
• Other gender responsive services (one day
  menstrual leave)
• Informed decision making
• Review of laws

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HB 3744 Section 12 on RH and Equity

• Safe motherhood services and information,
  including universal access to skilled attendance
  during childbirth, and universal access to
  emergency obstetric care for those with maternal
  complications
• FP services and info, including public provision
  of all modern and scientific methods, whether
  natural or artificial, provided that drugs or
  medical devices have passed regulatory standards
  on safety, quality and efficacy

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HB 3744 Section 12 on RH and Equity

• Services and info on management of abortion
  complications, which shall be given in a humane,
  respectful and non-judgmental manner and
  particular attention shall be given to address
  the gender issues surrounding womens resort to
  abortion to reduce number of cases
• Services and info for girls and women survivors
  of violence including the provision of various
  forms of care and support

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HB 3744 Section 12 on RH and Equity

• Services and info on STIs with particular
  attention to addressing the gender issues
  underlying or lined with the spread of STIs, HIV
  and AIDS
• Services and info specific to adolescents, with
  the goal of promoting their rights, well-being
  and responsibilities consistent with their
  evolving capacities
• Menstrual dysfunctions, Menopause, cancers of
  reproductive system, infertility

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The landscape of our advocacy and service
delivery. . .

• . . .public policy concerning reproductive health
  specifically on the right of individuals and
  couples to a family planning method of their
  choice and the sexual and reproductive rights of
  young people become also a moral issue one
  which will naturally draw in the influential
  Catholic Church hierarchy into the debate.

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David vs. Goliath

• Fighting the Goliaths
• Catholic Church hierarchy
• Executive leaders (national and local) and
  Legislative Officials
• Rich and influential individuals and conservative
  groups

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The Policy Environment Problems in Policy Making

• Rising wave of conservatism fueled by Catholic
  Church hierarchy
• Suspicion that RH automatically includes abortion
  and promiscuity

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The Policy Environment Problems in Policy Making
and Effect of Ambivalent National Policy

• Confusion and paralysis at some LGUs
• Buck passing from national to local government
• Decision-making left at the discretion of some
  local leaders who may even be more susceptible to
  pressures from conservative groups.

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NGO Actions on Recent Developments

• Reviewing provisions of comprehensive RH
  Ordinance in the Province of Aurora for
  replication by proactive responsive
  LGUs/drafting with PLCPD its IRR , tracking other
  RH measures
• Kept close watch on how GMA will speak in the UN
  Millennium Summit and immediately was informed on
  her call to the UN to respect the deep
  Catholicism of the Filipino people and that
  natural FP more effective than artificial

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NGO Actions on Recent Developments

• Putting up/strengthening partnerships and
  alliances (e.g.RH Korum) noting that political
  problems of Pres Arroyo gives perception that she
  has further bowed down to the call of the
  Catholic Church hierarchy/ anti choice groups
  and has stalled the approval of the Reproductive
  Health Care Act
• Kept a close watch on Consultative Commission on
  the Constitution

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STRATEGIES ADOPTED AMIDST STRONG ANTI-CHOICE
LOBBY FOR GENDER, RH AND RR
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ENSURING THAT ADVOCACIES/SERVICE DELIVERY HAVE
CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL BASIS
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PRESENT POLICY ENVIRONMENT FOR GENDER, SRH AND
RIGHTS

• Does RH have a constitutional basis?
• Are there provisions in the Constitution which
  may be interpreted to be anti-RH?

• Health, information, youth, women, Article on
  Family, human rights provisions
• Role of parents in giving info to their children
  right to life of the unborn lack of 73 prov.

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BEING PART OF A NETWORK OF HIGH PROFILE,
COMPETENT AND RESPECTED ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS
THOSE THAT CONSTITUTED THEMSELVES INTO THE RHAN
ALLOWED ADVOCACIES TO BE PUSHED QUICKLY AND WITH
QUALITY RESULTS/ALSO NGO SECTORAL COUNCIL OF NAPC
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RHAN

• Championing reproductive health, reproductive
  rights and development concerns

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RHAN Members
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TRACK PENDING MEASURES IN THE LEGISLATIVE MILL ON
RH AND POPULATION

• Approval by the Committee on Women, HOR, of
  HB3773, a substitute bill for HB16, 2029, 2042,
  2550, Sponsorship speeches delivered Womens
  Rights and PopDev bill pending
• Senate version still waiting for Committee on
  Health hearings priority on breastfeeding HIV
  AIDS

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FPOP Sub-national Initiatives

• Case 1 Creation of an RH advisory body to the
  LGU (Local Government Unit)
• To help the LGU develop its policies and program
  priorities on RH
• Case 2 Community Development Fund for RH Swap
  (CDF for RH Swap)
• Exchange of funds for RH services for the poor
  and underserved

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FPOP Sub-national Initiatives

• Case 3 Family Management Program
• Helping families address family concerns on
  education, health, livelihood and environment.

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FPOP Sub-national Initiatives
FASTERH

• Launching of FASTHERH (Families as Stewards
  of their Homes, Environment and Reproductive
  Health) / Community Work/Religious Issues

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SELF REGULATING POLICIES AND INTERNAL PROGRAMS
AND PROJECTS
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ARE YOU IN OR OUT?

• Sexual harassment policies
• Non discrimination in hiring and promotion
• Welfare related policies such as vacation, sick,
  maternity leaves and other protocols related to
  occupational health and safety
• Day care centers etc.

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SERVICE DELIVERY
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Service Delivery

• Quality of Care
• Rights of Service Providers
• Design health services for older women
• Understand male involvement strategies as they
  impact on resources for women
• Look at traditional practices related to gender
  that have positive and negative impact on RH
• Understand religious and cultural beliefs
• Displaced populations

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• So encourage each other and build each other up
  

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MARAMING SALAMAT PO!