Women in Peru become aware of the female condom
Programme participants at the YWCA Peru
The high rate of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), unwanted pregnancies, abortion, and maternal death observed in the country by the YWCA of Peru national office, led the association to conclude that there was a serious need to educate these women on their sexual and reproductive health requirements and rights, and to make them aware of the female condom as a safe solution to help resolve some of these issues.
In collaboration with partner organisations and thanks to contributions to the World YWCAs “Power to Change Fund”, the YWCA of Peru national office implemented an ongoing programme in Lima and Callao – the areas with the highest incidence of HIV and AIDS.
The programme seeks to implement actions, which could have a decisive influence on all women, including those living with HIV, through capacity building and training. It includes a campaign to promote the female condom to encourage safe sexual practices, as well as holding a number of workshops on issues related to sexual and reproductive health; understanding and recognition of women’s rights; advocacy work; the benefits of the female condom, and the empowerment of women.
Detailed information guides on sexual and reproductive health and the use of the female condom have been produced, in order to allow for widespread dissemination of the message. These guides are also distributed at gatherings/conferences where the association often mans a stand and where the opportunity for direct interaction can take place. This informal dialogue is particularly helpful to many women who are hearing about the female condom for the first time.
Another important part of this programme is the opportunity for women to have, often for the first time, access to gynaecological care to help protect and enhance their health.
The first phase of the programme has been very successful. Not only has it positively impacted the women who directly participated, other members of the community, including men, have also benefited by becoming aware of the issue and the means to remedy it.
In the long term, the project plans to benefit over 3,000 people.
The “Power to Change Fund”, which is a permanent fund of the World YWCA that endows leadership development programmes for women and girls worldwide. Thanks to this fund, women and young women are equipped with skills, knowledge and resources which allow them to become, in turn, powerful forces in changing lives and communities around them .
Read more about the Power to Change Fund
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