Partners In Health Canada

Published purpose

The project aims to advance the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of adolescent girls, reduce sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and support advocacy for SRHR in Sierra Leone and Malawi. For adolescent girls in Sierra Leone and Malawi, the rate of maternal mortality and SGBV is very high. The project provides support to SGBV survivors, including clinical services, legal services, and advocacy, in addition to conducting education sessions on SGBV prevention and referral. The project works to strengthen the capacity of healthcare practitioners to provide high quality, gender-sensitive, youth-friendly and rights-based SRHR services. Project activities include: (1) providing training for staff that is tailored to the specific health needs of adolescents; (2) creating safe spaces for adolescents to receive SRHR services in private; and (3) working with healthcare practitioners on national health objectives. In partnership with the Ministry of Health, healthcare institutions are better able to respond to the SRHR needs of women and girls, empowering them to live healthy lives and make informed choices around their health and rights.