In partnership with the Ministry of Health Pathfinder Int. launches USAID’s $39 million “OSRA” Health Program in Egypt
Today,
Pathfinder International, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Population, launched the new $39 million USAID-funded health program “OSRA” at the Grand Egyptian Museum. The program aims to increase Egyptians’ access to high-quality voluntary family planning information, counseling, contraceptive methods and services, while promoting knowledge about reproductive health…
The 5-year USAID-funded OSRA program will target around 10.6 million people in 625 communities in 10 governorates in Egypt, initially rolling out in Sharkia, Fayoum, Sohag, Assiut, with plans to expand to Beheira, Dakahlia, Giza, Beni Suef, Menia, and Qena in the future.
USAID’s OSRA program is collaborating with the National Project for Family Development. The program is also supported by the Ministry of Social Solidarity, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the National Council for Women, the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Endowment (Awqaf), the Church, and the governors of the participating governorates.
“Pathfinder’s team comprises of international and Egyptian partners with vast technical expertise, history, relationships, and links to family planning and reproductive health and multisectoral development platforms inside Egypt. Our well-respected track records, deep understanding of the local context, and extensive infrastructure throughout Egypt will enable us to start the Program up rapidly, respond quickly to needs, and lead lasting sustainable change through OSRA” explained Dr. Mohamed Abou Nar, Chief of Party for the OSRA program.
“The U.S. Government, through USAID, has invested over $435 million in reproductive health in Egypt over the last 30 years. These efforts, taken in close coordination with the Ministry of Health and Population, have lowered fertility rates and improved reproductive healthcare outcomes by providing Egyptian women with information on ways to recognize dangers to their health during pregnancy in time to seek medical care. We are proud to partner with the Ministry of Health and Population to foster and implement long-term and equitable healthcare solutions for Egyptian women and their families.” Shared Ambassador Daniel Rubinstein, Charge d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Cairo.
USAID’s OSRA program together with its partners, IQVIA Egypt, Egyptian Family Planning Association, Egyptian Red Crescent, Ask Consult for Health, Etisalat Egypt and Save the Children– seeks to encourage Egyptians to establish power-balanced family relationships. The program focuses on gender-equitable family planning choices through promoting digital technology to improve access to and awareness of reproductive health information and services. The OSRA program will work to:
● Increase women’s and men’s access to high-quality voluntary family planning information, counseling, contraceptive methods and services delivered by competent healthcare providers with a focus on digital technology integrations to improve access to and demand for reproductive health information and services;
● Enabling young people to mature into healthy adults by building their confidence and knowledge about reproductive health;
● Empowering women, men, and couples to achieve power-balanced family relationships (with support from family, communities, and peers), within which they can make healthy, gender-equitable family planning choices.
About Pathfinder International
Pathfinder International has been working in Egypt since 1978, helping to ensure that women, girls, boys, and men have the information and services they require to lead healthy reproductive lives. Our work over the years has traversed the length and breadth of the country. We have worked with the government, community-based organizations, the private sector, faith-based institutions, and communities to build capacity and strengthen health systems. For more information about Pathfinder and its work in Egypt, visit https://www.pathfinder.org/countries/egypt/.
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