Comments on: My Health, My Right http://ecumenicalwomen.org/2009/11/09/my-health-my-right/ Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:27:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Ecumenical Women http://ecumenicalwomen.org/2009/11/09/my-health-my-right/#comment-2157 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:57:04 +0000 http://ecumenicalwomen.org/?p=1610#comment-2157 Given the feedback i got from many of view regarding the specific situation in the Middle East, here’s a little update:

- Regarding female condoms in particular and HIV and AIDS in general, there are few countries that have put in place effective strategies to tackle the issue. Iran has excellent harm reduction programs for injecting drug users, but other initiatives are rare in the MidEast. As for condoms, the subject is taboo, and no governmental policies are in place. Data is scarce, and the general feeling, even in civil society, is “Oh, HIV prevalence is not high in the Middle East, we do not need condoms and this is not our problem”, which is a tremedously dangerous attitude because of the lack of monitoring and wrong messages it sends to the population.

Female condoms in the region, from our experience, are not well received during trainings, with mayn women walking out the door.
I’ve met a UNFPA Condom Programming Coordinator who bluntly told me: ” I have given up on your region, just tell us when you’re ready to wake up”.

For more info, please check those interesting links:
- http://publications.worldbank.org/ecommerce/catalog/product?item_id=2035523

- http://www.unaids.org

- http://www.thinkpositive-lb.org/index.php

Thanks again for your interest!

]]> By: Darine Sabbagh http://ecumenicalwomen.org/2009/11/09/my-health-my-right/#comment-2156 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:52:33 +0000 http://ecumenicalwomen.org/?p=1610#comment-2156 Hi Paola,

A presentation is a must then. Why not make a video post?

]]>