Houssein Sweid’s Post

In Nigeria, urban youth, especially marginalized adolescents, encounter significant barriers to accessing sexual and reproductive health information and services. Traditional programs struggle to reach this demographic effectively, leaving many vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancies. The USAID Youth-Powered Ecosystem to Advance Urban Adolescent Health (YPE4AH) project is changing this narrative. Supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development, YPE4AH empowers young people with skills, resources, and access to voluntary family planning services. Through programs like TEENSMATA hubs, adolescents find safe spaces to access accurate information and support for their Sexual Reproductive Health needs. Read more on the YPE4AH project: https://buff.ly/3LVYhcp

How are we enhancing quality of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services in Burkina Faso? In 2021, Burkina Faso faced a modern contraceptive prevalence rate of 28.2% for all women, with 19.6% having an unmet need for modern contraception, as per FP2030 data. EngenderHealth is driving change by way of the Improving SRH through Health System Strengthening program. We collaborate with local civil society organizations, research institutions, international nongovernmental organizations, and UN agencies to support Burkina Faso's Ministry of Health in achieving universal health coverage for SRH services, including working with health facilities to increase access to safe medical abortion care; provide assessments, medical equipment, and renovations; to improve maternal health and adolescent health services; and strengthen leadership, management, supply chains, and financing for SRH and maternal health services. Together, we're building a robust, equitable, responsive, and resilient health system for all: https://loom.ly/YDK2K-I #HealthSystemStrengthening #HealthEquity #SRHRForAll

Every woman has the right to quality sexual and reproductive health care🌸. These services are essential for women's health and well-being, especially in times of instability and crisis, where women are more vulnerable to sexual and gender-based violence. However, many women in Lebanon🇱🇧 do not have access to these services because they cannot afford them due to low incomes and high costs. Lebanon's public health system is in decline and sexual and reproductive health care is not available in many places, especially in rural areas. In addition, women do not posses enough information about the services available. Therefore, we provide gynecological care and sexual and reproductive health education to women and girls in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ein El Helweh. More than 300 women and girls ♀️ have participated in the workshops so far. These activities are carried out within the project "For her dignity – health, food and protection from violence for women and girls in Lebanon". The project is implemented in cooperation🤝 with our partner Developmental Action without Borders - Naba'a and with the financial support of the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. #DignifiedLife #genderequality #womensrights #sexualandreproductivehealth

From August 12 to 14, 2024, a regional youth workshop on sexual and reproductive health. These young people come from USAID-funded ExpandPF implementing countries. Participants come from Togo, Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Mauritania. I focused the young people on scaling up high-impact SRH and FP practices.  My presentation enabled the young people to identify the categories of high-impact practices, the strategies for scaling up high-impact practices, the foundations and reasons for scaling up to achieve health equity, and the reasons for scaling up for diversity.

The Coalition for Women's Health in Africa (COWHA) is a unified platform of private and non-state organizations that works towards an Africa where #women and girls have #access to equitable healthcare and optimal well-being. To advance its mission of catalyzing #partnerships through #knowledge, #advocacy and #action, the coalition presently runs two Technical Working Groups (TWGs); one focusing on Cancer (Breast & Cervical) and the other on Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) - (Contraception and reduction of unintended pregnancies). The COWHA Sexual and Reproductive Health TWG was established on April 2023, with the aim of addressing concerning trends and negative outcomes associated with contraception and unintended pregnancies in #Africa. From its establishment, the SRH TWG members have been working on a situational analysis regarding the involvement of the #private sector in delivering SRH solutions within the focus countries (Ghana, South Africa, and Kenya). Upon completion, this comprehensive analysis will be documented in a report, which will be disseminated among health stakeholders to enhance understanding and influence #policies within the SRH sector. #COWHA #womenshealth #unintendedpregnancies #contraception #knowledgeispower #SRHTWG #Kenya #Ghana #SouthAfrica

Integrating Peace and Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health (AYH-SRH): I had the opportunity of participating in a workshop that focused on integrating peace-building with Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health (AYH-SRH) in Bishofu town yesterday. These were the key points from the discussions we had: 1.     Involving youth in peace-building: Youth have a critical role in peace-building and it is important to engage them in conflict resolution and advocacy. 2.     Making the health system resilient: SRH programs are at risk whenever conflicts arise. 3.     Influencing policymakers: Shaping existing policies in integrating AYH-SRH and peace-building requires strong advocacy. 4.     Developing a National Action Plan (NAP): The focus was on developing a NAP that aligns both peace-building and AYH-SRH objectives. We discussed about how such a plan can be integrated into national policies for long-term sustainability. 5.     Monitoring and Evaluation: The workshop stressed the importance of refining and strengthening the plan through continuous feedback, evaluation, and adaptation. The goal is to make sure that the plan is actionable, measurable, with clear M&E mechanisms to track progress, outcomes, and challenges. * One thing that stood out to me was how often these important conversations remain just conversations. Too frequently, the agendas created after such meetings get lost or forgotten once the event ends. It's time we shift from discussion to implementation. We need to focus on evaluating and realizing policies that can lead to real, lasting change so that they don't just stay on paper. Let’s work together and do our part in making a sustainable change for our country, Ethiopia. #YouthEmpowerment #PeaceBuilding #AYHSRH #MonitoringAndEvaluation #PolicyInfluence

Exciting opportunity to highlight and share your family planning (FP) and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) program's learnings! 🌟 The Knowledge SUCCESS project, in collaboration with the IBP Network, is seeking program implementation stories that demonstrate the integration of global best practices in FP/SRH and that address one (or more) of the following themes: 1️⃣ Preparing for and responding to SRH needs in humanitarian and fragile settings 2️⃣ Strengthening health systems through primary health care, and through the effective integration of SRH and implementation research 3️⃣ Leveraging emerging technologies for SRH, while minimizing the inherent challenges and biases they bring to ensure equitable benefits across populations 4️⃣ Cultivating multisectoral collaboration, building new alliances and revitalizing existing partnerships for stronger, collective action 5️⃣ Centering intersectionality, inclusivity and the universality of SRH to address the needs of the most marginalized populations 👇 Submit your program's story by June 21, 2024! https://lnkd.in/e2cVgaWm #FamilyPlanning #SexualHealth #ReproductiveHealth | USAID

🌟 Launched! Explore 3 implementation stories highlighting innovative solutions for equitable SRHR access. Hear how winners addressed complex challenges and adapted approaches for success. 🔗: https://lnkd.in/gaeSPhXV --- Expanding comprehensive and equitable sexual and reproductive health (SRH) access and addressing diverse population needs is one of our goals so IBP Network, in collaboration with Knowledge SUCCESS, issued a call for SRH implementation stories last June that highlighted program learnings and successes around the key themes of: equity, partnerships, digital innovations, and health system strengthening; as well as the demonstrated integration of evidence-based global guidelines into programs. We are pleased to announce the launch of  the three winning implementation stories! Featuring projects from India, Uganda, and Burkina Faso/Senegal, these implementation stories provide a deep dive into the programs' challenges, successes, and lessons learned—sharing valuable insights and strategies for FP/RH implementers to learn from. Equipop SOS Jeunesse et Défis ONG RAES ONG Jeunesse et Développement / EEDS Expertise France #BURCASO | The David and Lucile Packard Foundation TrulyMadly | AMREF Cordaid MIFUMI Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Uganda | USAID HRP Research #IBPNetwork #KnowledgeSuccess #SRH #SRHImplementationStories #ImplementationStories #TheSafeLoveProject #SafeLoveProject #SafeLove #Heroes4GTA #JeunesEnVigieProgram #JeunesEnVigie

On #WorldRefugeeDay2024, my thoughts and well wishes are with the refugees and internally displaced persons who are victims of the current 8 years #Anglophonecrisis in the North West and South West regions, as well as those of the far North region of my country Cameroon🇨🇲 Forced to flee away from their homes and livelihood due to wars and crises, women and girls are disproportionately affected by crises as conflict exacerbate existing gender inequalities. With a high increase in the risk of unwanted pregnancies, maternal and infant mortality, and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV these victims suffer direct and long-term physical and mental health consequences. It is therefore imperative for local, national and international stakeholders to collaborate in the designing and implementation of effective humanitarian policies and programmes which will prioritize the needs of adolescent girls and women in emergencies, such as increase access to #SexualandReproductiveHealth information and services, emergency contraception, psychosocial support, and safe abortion care to be delivered in a timely, safe, dignified, and confidential manner. Sexual and reproductive health is an essential component of the universal right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, protection from violence and the right to safety and essentially the right to life enshrined in the #UniversalDeclarationofHumanRights. Like all other human rights, it applies to #refugees, #internallydisplacedpersons and anyone living in #humanitariansettings and should be upheld.