Montevideo, 28 de octubre de 2022. Regional technical entities of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the participating countries involved (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, Guyana and Peru) met to provide a space for strategic reflection on the achievements and challenges in the implementation of the project "Improving the health of women and adolescent girls in vulnerable situations" during the year 2022, and to exchange on the work plans for 2023.
The meeting took place in Lima, Peru, from October 25 to 27, but it was also possible to participate virtually through information sessions, discussion sessions, teamwork sessions and presentations of country experiences.
The meeting also included discussions on how to mainstream the gender and intercultural approach, as well as the project's communications strategy.
The sessions covered the following topics: maternal health, neonatal health, adolescent health, family planning, health information, gender mainstreaming, equity in health, intercultural dialogues, gender violence, Guyana's experience, preparation of work plans 2023, and communication.
Among the challenges identified were: the negative impact of the pandemic, particularly on the most vulnerable populations; the difficulties in accessing certain communities due to geographical and cultural barriers; the lack of visibility of some problems such as maternal or neonatal death; the high turnover of technical personnel, which hinders capacity building; the lack of information on post-obstetric event contraception (AIPEO); among others.
The importance of accompaniment in the processes was also emphasized; visits to the countries to learn about the different realities and talk first-hand with local actors; the need to continue training and generating communication material to provide clear information and raise awareness about the relevance of addressing these issues; strengthening networks; strengthening information systems to provide statistical data for the evaluation and generation of public policies, in particular, the relevance of extending the use of SIP Plus throughout the region.
The director of the Latin American Center for Perinatology - Women's and Reproductive Health (CLAP/WR), Suzanne Serruya, emphasized the importance of firmly advancing the women's rights agenda. "Only in this way will we be able to eradicate existing inequalities and guarantee the fulfillment of the rights of women, children and adolescents; and only in this way will we be able to achieve the commitments made in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)."
The meeting was positively valued by the participants who highlighted the importance of these meetings to generate synergies.
It is worth remembering that this project represents one of the most important agreements between PAHO and the Government of Canada, through Global Affairs Canada (GAC), and responds to the priority of promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women and adolescent girls by addressing gaps in sexual and reproductive health and related rights.
