Thursday, November 29, 2007
Reports From the Field
News and Updates From DOW Projects Around the World
Bulgaria
Bulgaria
June, 2007, Bulgaria - Leaders from 9 NGOs in Bulgaria participate in advocacy training as part of Roma Advocacy Project designed toincrease the Roma community’s capacity to shape Bulgarian health policy. The DOW Roma Advocacy Project also unites Roma NGOs in coalitions that give them greater visibility and stronger influence within Bulgaria.
Mexico
July-September, 2007, Altamirano, Mexico - Volunteer physicians provide direct care and mentoring at the rural Hospital San Carlos in Chiapas. Doctors Barbara Newman and Emily Dow spent six weeks at the HSC, the only health facility available to most indigenous communities in the region, addressing gaps in health services for children.
Kenya
September, 2007, West Pokot, Kenya – Community leaders, donors, and partners gather for launch of new initiative to improve maternal and child survival. The Partnership for Maternal and Neonatal Health’s launch marks the beginning of an intensive DOW program of training and infrastructure improvement to ensure that women can access safe delivery and obstetric care services in West Pokot.
August, 2007 – The HIV clinic at Kapenguria District Hospital registers its 1,000th patient, marking an important milestone in increasing access to HIV testing, treatment, and support to individuals and families from across the West Pokot District, despite the challenges of poor roads and a huge geographic area with limited health infrastructure.
Nepal
September 5, 2007, Kathmandu, Nepal – DOW provides training in gender-based violence (GBV) services to physicians and nurses from UNFPA’s Mobile Reproductive Health Units. These physicians and nurses will serve as trainers of other Nepali health professionals in providing medical care and support for survivors of GBV.
Russia
August, 2007, St. Petersburg, Russia - HIV Outreach Program for street and at-risk youth in Russia marks first year anniversary. In one year, the project has reached 261 street youth with HIV prevention services, offered testing and counseling for 142 youth, and provided 62 HIV-positive youth with medical, social, and referral services at drop-in centers.
September, 2007, St. Petersburg, Russia – Local partners join with DOW to establish halfway house for HIV-positive street and at-risk youth with substance abuse problems. The home, scheduled to open in April 2008, will be the second created with DOW in St. Petersburg. It will provide a safe, supportive space for some of the estimated 15-20,000 HIV-positive street-youth in the city, offering counseling, educational assistance, employment training, medical referrals, and other social services. The house staff will also work to enable smooth transitions for residents to return to their families or to an independent living situation.
Ukraine
June 25-26, 2007, Kyiv, Ukraine - MAMA+ National Conference held in Ukraine to report on lessons learned and progress made in two years of project operation. Over 100 representatives from Ukrainian national, state, and non-governmental agencies gathered in Kyiv for the two day conference to exchange lessons learned and share best practices. At the conference, the MAMA+ photo journal and exhibit was opened,presenting the stories of MAMA+ clients and the impact of the project on their lives.
United States
September 29, 2007, New York, NY – Human Rights Clinic training draws overwhelming response. Thirty-two medical and mental health professionals attended a training to serve as DOW volunteers providing evaluations and support for asylum seekers in the US who have fled from torture and persecution. The training drew one of the highest responses for attendance in the program’s 13 year history.