Training focuses on reproductive health during crisis

 By OGIA MIAMEL
THE PNG Family Health Association held a one-week training for health professionals on reproductive and sexual health during a crisis or natural disaster.
Association director Michael Salini said the training was focused on educating health professionals on how to handle emergency sexual and reproductive health needs before, during and after emergencies.
Salini said the holistic approach of the training addressed all the stages of the emergency management cycle where emergency responses were followed by preparedness activities and recovery activities.
Topics covered during the training included sexual reproductive health and coordination mechanism during a crisis, sexual violence and gender-based violence during a crisis, HIV and sexually-transmitted infections during a crisis and maternal health.
Facilitator Dr Betty Koka said the minimum initial service package training for reproductive health during a crisis was first conducted in 2010, followed by four regional training and one provincial training in East New Britain last year.
Dr Koka said the five objectives were:

• Ensure health cluster/sector identifies agency to lead the implementation of MISP;
• Prevent sexual violence and assist survivors;
• Reduce transmission of HIV;
• Prevent maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality;
• Plan for comprehensive reproductive services, integrated into primary health care.