The Jacmel Clinic Is the Only Clinic in Haiti with Two Gynaecologists and Was Cited by a Haitian Doctor As Being a Pioneer in Pu
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Haiti FACTFILE PROJECT OVERVIEW KEY PROJECT STATISTICS Title Improve and Increase Expanded, upgraded and enhanced 63,544 couple years of protection were Reproductive Health Services services provided. The project reached over one million people IPPF Member Association and focused on the needs of under-served Number of new family planning users: Association pour la Promotion de la communities. It was based in four areas: 31,182. Famille Haïtienne (PROFAMIL), Port-au-Prince (capital), Jacmel (South-East), www.profamil.org Port-de-Paix (North-West peninsula) and the Number of condoms distributed: remote Artibonite region (West-Central). 3,808,324. Set up in 1986, PROFAMIL provides The project enabled PROFAMIL to expand, a full range of reproductive health Number of non-family planning sexual reinvigorate and improve its service delivery services, including all modern and reproductive health services infrastructure and increase access to high quality contraceptive methods and sterilization, provided: 350,442. services for poor communities. It increased at four clinics in major cities as well the scope, extent and coverage of sexual and as rural outreach services in nine The project reached 359,199 people reproductive health and family planning services geographical departments. with sexual and reproductive health in the rural South-East, improved quality of information. Aim To increase access to reproductive care in the Member Association’s clinics, and health services with a specific focus on increased access to sexual and reproductive Community promoters conducted 11,571 the South-East region. health information via community-based services group activities, and visited 97,178 in remote areas. households as part of a programme of Duration Five years: 2003–2007 home visits. The Jacmel clinic is the Haiti with two gynaecologists and was cited by KEY ACHIEVEMENTS only clinic in Haiti with a Haitian doctor as being a pioneer in public PROFAMIL’s clinic has become the health. main provider of specialized sexual and two gynaecologists and One of the project’s advantages was to reproductive health services in the offer, at accessible cost, services that were not South-East region. was cited by a Haitian generally accessible to this under-privileged population. One example is services for infertility. The project has contributed to an doctor as being a pioneer Another important service was preventing overall increase in contraceptive in public health. cervical cancer, through new cancer screening prevalence in this province from 3 per facilities, in collaboration with the local hospital cent before the project started to 8.7 Volatile and challenging political and the Haitian Society of Oncology. per cent in 2006. environment The project took place when Haiti was going The prevalence of sexually Increased credibility as a service through some of its worst periods of political transmitted infections has been reduced delivery organization upheaval and personal insecurity, a situation through effective prevention and The project succeeded in increasing the number that made the simple task of going to work, treatment. of services provided and family planning users particularly in Port-au-Prince, a perilous venture recruited by increasing the frequency of clinic Laboratory and ultrasound services for the staff. This political and security situation sessions almost four-fold. have been well utilized and contribute might have constituted a major constraint, but Services offered by PROFAMIL were well to financial sustainability of the PROFAMIL managed to stay open, due mainly to appreciated by people who were aware of services. the commitment of its staff. those services. At the same time, there is a need to extend the reach of sexual health and Introduction of a pap smear service High impact of specialized services reproductive services in the key areas, promote has prevented cervical cancer for many Over the years, PROFAMIL has increasingly the services more widely and to further increase women. become a gynaecological and obstetric service service uptake. provider, with family planning taking a lower profile. The Jacmel clinic is the only clinic in Taking services to remote communities Meeting the special needs of Windward North Atlantic One of the major factors that contributed to young people Passage Ocean recruiting new users was setting up mobile clinics Many clients are young women under the age CUBA in remote areas and using community promoters of 25. The project therefore made great strides Port-de-Paix to deliver village-based services. in organizing services that were youth-friendly, Gonaïves An important lesson learned was that improving health-seeking behaviour, and HAITI DOMINICAN the Member Association’s experience of promoting preventive sexual and reproductive REPUBLIC community-based cervical screening showed that health practices through improved access to Port-au-Prince community health testing is more successful if information and knowledge. Jacmel the test results are given to clients in their own ‘Edutainment’ activities combined education community rather than asking them to travel to messages with entertainment, such as singing Caribbean Sea the city to get their results. and dancing events, as well as group discussions. 50 miles The project used peer educators trained in HIV 100 kilometres prevention. The project made great Older clinic users fully supported activities to COUNTRY STATS target young people and encouraged their own strides in organizing Population is 9.1 million, with children to participate. services that were 38 per cent under the age of 15. (2008, Population Reference Bureau) youth-friendly, improving Building national and local partnerships 35 per cent of population health-seeking behaviour, The project enjoyed strong community support is aged between 10 and 24. and reached out to poor, rural communities. (2006, Population Reference Bureau) and promoting preventive PROFAMIL collaborated with Ministry of sexual and reproductive Health facilities at the field level, as well as with Human Development Index ranking: local non-governmental organizations. It also 146 out of 177 countries. health practices through contributes to the Ministry of Health’s steering (2005, UNDP Human Development improved access to committee for the national programme on Report 2007/2008) repositioning family planning. information and knowledge. Average life expectancy at birth is 59.5 years. The project enjoyed (2005, UNDP Human Development LESSONS LEARNED strong community Report 2007/2008) It is important to create demand for support and reached The infant mortality rate services by raising awareness in the is 57 per thousand live births. community through information, education out to poor, rural (2008, Population Reference Bureau) and communication activities. communities. The total fertility rate is 4 Creating or expanding community support (2000–2005) with only 28 per cent groups, including satisfied client clubs, Stronger organization with enhanced of married women aged 15–49 would reinforce self-confidence among assets and management practising family planning. family planning service users, overcome The project has enhanced PROFAMIL’s capacity to (1997–2005, UNDP Human Development women’s fear of being criticized by manage, monitor and evaluate its programmes. Report 2007/2008) their peers, and improve men’s attitudes Its board, and particularly its president, takes a Population living with HIV/AIDS towards family planning. deep interest in how the organization performs. PROFAMIL now owns clinic facilities in Jacmel (aged 15–49) is 3.8 per cent. The recruitment of prominent individuals and Port-au-Prince, as well as a central office (2005, UNDP Human Development in the business, professional and medical building. This expanded ownership is a positive Report 2007/2008) worlds could lend their individual prestige move towards sustainability. Only 24 per cent of births are to the Member Association and increase attended by trained personnel. its visibility in the policy arena. (1997–2005, UNDP Human Development Report 2007/2008) IPPF 4 Newhams Row, London SE1 3UZ, United Kingdom Tel: +44 20 7939 8200 • Fax: +44 20 7939 8300 Email: [email protected] • www.ippf.org UK Registered Charity No. 229476 This project was funded by The European Union. .