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Global Health Cluster Meeting Geneva - December 2011

Updates from the Inter‐agency Working Group (IAWG) on Reproductive Health in Crises

Sandra Krause

Reproductive Health Program

Women’s Refugee Commission


Thirteenth Annual IAWG Meeting, Istanbul, Turkey


IAWG Steering Committee American Refugee Committee (ARC) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Columbia University International Medical Corps (IMC) International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) International Rescue Committee (IRC) Jphiego JSI Research and Training Institute Marie Stopes International (MSI) Save the Children United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) University of New South Wales Women’s Refugee Commission World Health Organization (WHO)


Some key highlights

13 IAWG sub‐working groups

Inter‐agency Field Manual on Reproductive Health in Humanitarian Settings, May 2010

2002‐2004 global review


Updates to the MISP standard in the 2010 IAFM

More details on: Clinical care for survivors of sexual assault

Provision of basic and emergency obstetric care

Standard precautions

Priority activities in addition to the MISP.


Attention to the needs and capacities of adolescents.

Considerations for urban displacement.

Information, education and communication for communities.

RH coordination strategically centered within the health sector/cluster.

Importance of agencies establishing a complaints mechanism to handle sexual exploitation and abuse.

Priority activities in addition to the MISP.

Research. Rethink. Resolve.

Updates to the MISP Module


Thirteenth annual meeting topics of discussion Theme: capacity‐building in crises

Broad areas covered include: Global updates

Family planning

Newborn health

Emergency preparedness and contingency planning

Research and innovation

Local capacity‐building

Lessons from the field, including from Afghanistan, Pakistan, South Sudan, Yemen


Thirteenth annual meeting major outcomes

Formation of a Eastern Europe/Central Asia regional IAWG chapter.

Sub‐working group updates to terms of reference.

Identification of key gaps including: Newborn health

Reproductive health coordination

Frontline worker safety and security


RH Coordination in the Health Cluster Guide Ensuring coordinated action in specific sub‐sectors (Chapter 2,

page 48)“The reproductive health (RH) area (including the three subsectors of STI&HIV, maternal & newborn health and sexual violence) requires increased attention in humanitarian settings. To ensure adequate coverage of these essential services, an organization that is a partner in the health cluster and has specific expertise and capacity in country must be assigned the responsibility to support, promote, advocate for and lead actions in the reproductive health area . The assignment of an RH area focal point agency should be discussed and agreed within the health cluster with all partners agreeing on the terms of reference, and the organization concerned committing to fulfilling the agreed ToR. The ToR should be linked to the agreed health crisis response strategy/plan of action. It should be consistent with agreed minimum standards (MISP) taking account of the situation and the available technical and operational capacity.”


Discussion

What have been your experiences with reproductive health coordination at the field level?


Discussion

What should next steps be to strengthen reproductive health coordination?


Coordination challenges Lack of knowledge about the current health

cluster and reproductive health IAFM guidance.

Few motivators for the health cluster to designate a focal agency to coordinate reproductive health.

Disconnects between regional, national and sub‐national level coordination.

Lack of dedicated and reliable funding for reproductive health coordination.


Coordination solutions Provide information about the current health cluster

and reproductive health IAFM guidance.

Agencies working in reproductive health to advocate within health cluster/sector to identify reproductive health focal agency.

Fund dedicated full‐time reproductive health position.

Strengthen existing reproductive health working group TOR to ensure it addresses value‐added to the health cluster.

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