GEORGIA: TAFT GRANT CLOSEOUT FOR WOMEN'S WELLNESS

UNCLAS TBILISI 001379 SIPDIS MOSCOW FOR REFCOORD (LKIERANS) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREF EAID GG SUBJECT: GEORGIA: TAFT GRANT CLOSEOUT FOR WOMEN'S WELLNESS CARE ALLIANCE HERA REF: 08 SECSTATE 35430 ¶1. Summary: On July 7, Poloff visited the NGO Women's Wellness Care Alliance - HERA (HERA),and several beneficiaries of the Julia Taft Grant funding for Internally Displaced Persons (IDP). One of the activities conducted by HERA, the Mobile Clinics Project, received USG $14,225.00 from the Taft Fund and focused on (a) updating reproductive health services and information provided, (b) improving reproductive health information, and (c) increasing accessibility to reproductive health services and information, all for IDP women. Thanks to the Taft grant, 45 health care professionals and 543 women received training on these health care issues. Health care professionals and IDP women reported that the program increased their knowledge and improved their practices. They also valued establishing working contacts with HERA. The targeted IDP's have been living in former hotels and schools ("collectives") converted into "temporary" housing after the 1993 conflicts for 16 years. End Summary. HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS ¶2. HERA trained IDP health care providers in the communities of Tskaltubo, Samtredia and Kutaisi in modern reproductive health (including HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections) and women's health issues. Comparing initial and final training surveys showed that each community increased their working knowledge as a result of the training (over 55% in Tskaltubo and Samtredia, and 70% in Kutaisi). The Kutaisi participants were most actively involved in discussing modern approaches to diagnosing and referring reproductive tract cancers, especially breast cancer. IMPROVED NETWORK FOR IDP WOMEN ¶3. Six health fairs were held for IDP women at collectives in the three communities. Overall, 543 women participated in the fairs. They, in turn, passed on what they had learned to other women in their respective collectives. The fairs focused on the early detection of breast cancer and overall reproductive health. In a follow up visit, IDP women in Samtredia remarked that they were grateful for the training and regularly perform self-exams. The fairs were lively and participatory and helped establish relationships between IDP representatives and HERA that were previously absent. While conducting health awareness activities is a primary function of HERA, working specifically with IDPs was new. HERA intends to continue to network wit clinics and specialists providing services to the IDP community, as well as to share and collaborate on health related information and issues. HERA's involvement has been especially appreciated at the IDP Clinic in Kutaisi, where many of the health care professionals working there are themselves IDPs. The resulting new network between HERA and IDP community leaders stands to help better serve IDP communities. BREAKDOWN OF BUDGET ITEM QTY UNIT COST MODEL TOTAL COST SALARY PROJECT COORDINATOR 6 MO. 200.00 1,200.00 SALARY FINANCE MANAGER 6 MO. 100.00 600.00 PRINTING IEC BOOKLETS 2000 .50 2,999.43 HONORARIUM FOR DOCTORS 30 100.00 3,000.00 HONORARIUM FOR NURSES 60 50.00 3,000.00 PETROL 2,554.78 PHONE 578.33 INTERNET 221.94 BANK FEES 73.41 TOTAL COST $14,227.89 THANKS TO PRM FOR ONGOING SUPPORT ¶4. Post is greatful for the continued support provided by PRM through the effective use of Julia Taft Grants. QPRM through the effective use of Julia Taft Grants. TEFFT