In October 2001, a new
component has been added including a series of interrelated activities that
were planned to contribute to addressing adolescent health promotion
needs and to integrate health promotion topics in curricula of formal and
non-formal education. Through the project, the school teachers will be trained
on health education as well. In February 2002, a situational analysis of existing
reproductive health programs and information needs of the adolescents was
submitted to the Ministry of National Education, who is collaborating with
HRDF in this important program.
· Sexual Health on BBC: A project has been implemented in collaboration
with BBC and IPPF between 1999-2000. A radio program on sexual health for
youth was broadcast and a booklet was published to be distributed to young
people. Also a toll free phone number was installed at Istanbul University
Child Health Institute to provide counseling on sexual and reproductive health
issues.
· In-service Training for Residents: Lessons drawn from the
past activities show that quality of care is directly linked to in service
and pre-service training programs. Building on this experience, HRDF has started
to implement a project with the financial support of UNFPA and in collaboration
with the MCH/FP General Directorate of the Ministry of Health, in 2001. During
the project, approximately 200 residents from Ob/Gyn, Family Health, Public
Health, Urology and Pediatrics departments of Training Hospitals in Istanbul,
Ankara, Ýzmir and Adana will be trained on Reproductive Health issues
in two years and reproductive health will be integrated into the residents
curriculum.
· Reproductive Rights, Client Rights Training at the Referral Sites
of Willows Foundation
The Human Resource Development Foundation in collaboration with Istanbul University
Woman and Child Health Training and Research Center has conducted a survey
to assess the quality of care at Willows Foundation referral sites in Istanbul
and Diyarbakýr and undertook an intervention for quality improvement
in 2001. The purpose of this study was to improve the collaboration and quality
of services at referral sites, which would enhance the target population receiving
better reproductive health services.
Recently, another study has been conducted with the collaboration of HRDF
and WCHTRC to asses the attitudes and needs of service providers. Based upon
the findings of this study, a training program that will emphasize on reproductive
rights, client rights and improvement of communication skills will be implemented
in Aydýn, Diyarbakýr and Mardin for reproductive health service
providers with the collaboration of Istanbul Bar Associations Womens
Rights Center and a consultancy firm.
Children in Labor
HRDF is a participant in the International Program on the Elimination of Child
Labor (IPEC) since 1994. In 1996, with the support of the International Labor
Organization (ILO), HRDF designed and provided an orientation and information
program for primary school inspectors and administrators, teachers and families
in areas where high levels of child labor are persistent in Istanbul. The
program aims at increasing awareness on the problem of working children and
generating greater support for them within the formal education system.
As a continuation of these efforts, HRDF has implemented another program between
2000-2001 to support children working in textile, furniture and auto repair
workshops by educating their parents and employers on child labor issues and
creating opportunities for these children to reparticipate in the education
system.