Reproductive Health and Reproductive Rights | ICRH

In Nicaragua, a new model of integrated primary health care (MAIS, modelo de atención integral en salud), is currently being implemented in primary health centres. Although the new model gives opportunities for more qualitative, accessible and equitable health care, the implementation is hampered by organizational, communicative and technical insufficiencies. The present project investigates strategies to strengthen the implementation of the model through academically guided activities related to organization, technical ability, communication and research. The pivotal theme of the project is reproductive health delivery, identified as one of the most vulnerable aspects in this transition phase. 

Yolami is a demonstration-intervention project addressed to young labour migrants in Chinese cities. The project aims to improve their access to health care and to promote their sexual and reproductive health. After investigating determinants of access to health care interventions will be set up and evaluated.

A photo exhibition on teenage pregnancies in Kinshasa aimed at sensitizing Belgian parlementarians and the general public on problems related to sexual and reproductive health and visualises the consequences of a lack of the implementation of sexual and reproductive rights.

In the context of the University Development Cooperation, the Universidade Eduardo Mondlane (UEM), Mozambique, was selected as a partner institution of the VLIR-UDC-programme ‘Institutional University Cooperation’. The implementation of the Partner Programme with UEM (2008-2013) is coordinated by professor Marleen Temmerman. The programme is being implemented inter-university and has as central theme ‘Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS’. It comprises, in this first phase, 8 projects. Five projects address a sub-theme of the central theme and 3 projects will strengthen capacity in specific areas.

Sexual and reproductive ill-health is a cause as well as a consequence of poverty among women who end in a down-ward trend together with their children. Overall policy makers pay little attention to the situation of poor women in the development of their poverty reduction strategy.

During war and armed conflict the vulnerability of children and adolescents increases, particularly cwhere their sexual and reproductive health rights and needs are concerned. Responding to these rights and needs requires a very specific approach.