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ICRW - International Center for
Research on Women
AFRICA - PARLIAMENTARIANS FOR
WOMEN'S HEALTH
Mobilizing
African Parliamentarians, Communities Can Improve Women's Health
Linking African parliamentarians to their constituents – particularly positive
women – can have a powerful impact in fighting AIDS and improving women's
health, according to participants in the Parliamentarians for Women's Health
project, who gathered Sept. 11-12 in Nairobi, Kenya to discuss lessons learned
from the project and strategize how to integrate these lessons into national
anti-AIDS efforts.
The three-year project, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,
began in 2005 in four African countries—Botswana, Kenya, Namibia and
Tanzania—to connect members of parliament (MPs) with positive communities to
support efforts to improve women's and girls' access to health care and
services. The project used community assessments, workshop trainings and
networking approaches to link MPs and their communities they represent.
At the forum, Hon. Peya Mushelenga, Namibia, described how the project opened
his eyes to the unique realities and barriers of women living with HIV.
“Despite having grown up surrounded by AIDS, this project broadened my
understanding,” he says. “It showed me the link between HIV and human rights.”
Several new briefs discuss results from the project and its approaches.
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