Empowering for Equality Swaran L Naidu Associate Professor in O&G Fiji National University Viseisei Sai Health Centre

MDG3- Gender Equality Females are as intelligent as males as shown by primary and secondary schools results So what is it that leaves women behind after this stage?

Reproductive Role? Difference in reproductive role to men - disempowers them. -trapped into not having control -over their reproduction -socio- economically -and becomes dependent on the male partner. This leads to many of the abuses that women suffer. Motherhood instead of being a celebration becomes a yoke and a burden

Fiji High Unmet need for contraception 30% contraceptive use 10% teen Pregnancy High rates of unplanned pregnancy STI rates high <25 years Cervical Cancer rates very high

Disempowerment of women High poverty- 40% below poverty line High unemployment among women Unaware of their rights Lack of sense of their own worth & value Society - believe that they are inferior High rates of Gender Based Violence

Response -Recognition that Reproductive Health can not be delivered from hospitals and health centres only - Human Rights Project “Strengthening rights of rural women by providing them with knowledge, access and control of their Reproductive health”. Funded By European Union

Empowerment of Rural Women and Girls Our Project: attempts to help remove the yoke/burden from the most under privileged rural women Helping them celebrate who they are and try and realise their full potential Hope- help towards gender equality

Project Education Awareness raising Advocacy Targeted health care through outreach clinics Main Areas Covered: Reproductive Health Rights/ Human Rights Family Planning/ contraceptive use Safe sex STIs Cervical Cancer Screening

Target Groups- Lautoka, Ba and Nadi Schools Girls, University students Youth groups Faith Based Groups Women’s groups Rural Women & men in Villages and settlements Teachers of the Family Life Education Program

2 year Project TEAM: Gynaecologist 2 RH nurses 1 Health Promotion Officer 3 Health Educators Driver Data Entry

Mid Feb to June 2013 Stats EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS 35 villages/ settlements (1200 women) 6 youth/ faith-based groups (200) 6 schools (202 students)

Workshops 2 Teachers workshops –Up skilling in RH education 2 Women’s Advocates in RH Workshops -2 1 Youth Workshop 1 University Students Workshop

THE RH OUTREACH CLINICS Total Number of Women Seen Pap Smears performed Number of breast examinations Referrals to Lautoka /VSHC— Suspicious Breast Lumps Number of Paps with Trichomonas / 425 results High grade Pap Abnormality / 425 results Cases of Cervical Cancer Seen (So far- received 425 results of the 784 Pap smears performed)

Our Lives …changing!