Improving sexual and reproductive health and wellbeing for women, girls and vulnerable groups.
Papua New Guinea (PNG) experiences some of the highest rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the world, and the highest rates of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in the Western Pacific region. Access to quality sexual and reproductive health (RH) services that include HIV/STI is challenging. In PNG, women, girls, and marginalised groups are disproportionately affected by poor sexual reproductive health (SRH) outcomes, because of constraints in the health sector and the challenging geographic environment. The Catholic Church Health Service (CCHS) provides most of its health services to rural and remote populations. ASHM has partnered through a consortium with Burnet Institute and Igat Hope to deliver the Sexual & Reproductive Health Integration Project (SRHIP) since 2017.
The Sexual & Reproductive Health Integration Project (SRHIP) delivers quality, scaled sexual and reproductive health services at Catholic Church Health Services (CCHS) facilities through:
- Strengthening systems
- Strengthening services
- Strengthening partnerships
- Strengthening engagement
ASHM’s Global program involvement is critical to the successful delivery of quality integrated health services by leading clinical service development and monitoring and evaluation system improvement activities.
SRHIP will ensure continued and responsive provision of HIV and STI services to CCHS without duplicating national health mechanisms, whilst strategically addressing integration, sustainability and scale-up of quality SRH services within primary health care.
Acknowledgement of partners and donors: CCHS, Igat Hope, Burnet Institute, National Department of Health, Provincial Health Authorities, PNG Sexual Health Society, Key Population Advocacy Consortium (KPAC) and PATH, Australian Government.