tailieunhanh - Improving Reproductive Health through Community-Based Services: 25 Years of Pathfinder International Experience

Before meeting Margaret and Mama Lomayani, Maria would go to church and cry all day. But now, “They have given me hope,” she says. Maria braids hair and washes her neighbor’s clothes to earn money, but it is difficult to make ends meet. Mama Lomayani is helping Maria obtain a small loan to buy shampoo and oils to sell and to expand her hair-braiding business. She also hopes to sell jewelry and other small items to her clients. This money will go straight into a bank account to pay for her son’s future school fees. Margaret volunteers as a community health worker because she doesn’t want to see others. | V PATHFINDER INTERNATIONAL Improving Reproductive Health through Community-Based Services 25 Years of Pathfinder International Experience ỊẳỗỊ Pathfinder INTERNATIONAL Pathfinder International believes that reproductive health is a basic human right. When parents can choose the timing of pregnancies and the size of their families women s lives are improved and children grow up healthier. Photo Karen Ryder For over 50 years Pathfinder has provided women men and adolescents throughout the developing world with access to quality family planning and reproductive health information and services. Pathfinder works to prevent HIV AIDS provide care to women suffering from the complications of unsafe abortion reach adolescents with services tailored to their needs and advocate for sound reproductive health policies in the . and abroad. Pathfinder collaborates with communities partner organizations and government at all levels to strengthen local skills and foster lasting change. Community-Based Services In the late 1970s Pathfinder was one of the first organizations to develop programs supporting the community-based distribution of family planning commodities. Since then our community-based programs have reached dozens of countries throughout the developing world. Pathfinder works with communities at the grassroots level to expand access and knowledge stimulate acceptance and create awareness and ownership of family planning and reproductive health services. Cover photos Jenny Wilder and Samantha Morrison PATHFINDER INTERNATIONAL Improving Reproductive Health through Community-Based Services 25 Years of Pathfinder International Experience Mary K. Burket MA Technical Communications Associate October 2006 .