UNFPA Lebanon

The Reproductive Health Project (Leb/02/P03) at the MoPH and as one of the Project's outputs (Increase Availability of Quality Integrated RH Services and Information in 150 PHC and 2 Maternity wards in target areas) and in coordination with UNFPA and other concerned partners (Ministry of Social Affairs/ Reproductive Health Project) has identified five Centers of Excellence, the selection process took into consideration the following criteria:

The need of RH Services in the area
Provision of quality RH care package including, in addition to the basic and essential services the following :

o Prevention, early detection and treatment of diseases of the RH tract, including STDs and HIV.
o Basic antenatal, postnatal and postpartum care.
o Adolescent sexual health services and information.
o Menopause and post menopause counseling and treatment.
o Prevention, counseling and management of Infertility.
o Provision of the widest achievable range of safe and effective Family Planning contraceptives methods including Emergency Contraceptives.

Availability of operational basic RH equipments
Trained and motivated personnel on SDG(Service Delivery Guidelines) and SMP (System Management Protocols) and counseling issues related to RH with special attention to gender based violence and adolescent health.

This process was initiated in two healthcare centers in 2004 (Wadi Khaled Health center in Akkar, and Imam El-Khoumayni Center in Tyr), however the third healthcare center (Social Development Center in Baalbeck) was equipped in 2005. The offered equipment were ordered for one healthcare center but due to budgetary constraints that caused delay in procurement of other equipment a contingency plan was applied where three healthcare centers showed the already procured equipment taking into consideration the needs, the spectrum of care, and the capacity to offer additional healthcare services. As for the remaining two healthcare centers (Social Development Center –Borj El-Barajneh and Armenian Relief Cross Center) it is planned to equip them during the 2nd half of 2005.

The MoPH project Leb/02/P03 and in cooperation with UNFPA celebrated the World Population day having a slogan “Equality” for this year. The activities took place in 5 Mohafaza during the period of 14, 18, 21 and 26 July 2005. The activities included “one advocacy day” in five Centers of Excellence mainly focused on issues underscored by UNFPA to highlight and accentuate “Equality”. The reproductive health project at the MoPH aimed at emphasizing equality with special reference to specificity issues in Lebanon. As such the advocacy days were implemented as follows:

Social Development Center –Borj El-Barajneh on July 14th, targeted 32 girls/women with special social needs/concerns.
Wadi Khaled-Akkar Center on July 18th targeted 43 women.
Imam El-Khoumayni Center-Tyr on July 18th targeted to 21 women, 4 men and 5 of the staff in the center.
Social Development Center –Baalbeck on July 21st, targeted 43 adolescents (17-23) representatives of associations and youth clubs in Baalbeck.
Armenian Relief Cross Center on July 26th targeted 13 adolescent girls (age group:13-16).

Each presentation was followed by a very informative wholehearted discussion, which raised crucial concerns and assisted the program in underscoring issues to be included in future reproductive health planning.