Stronger Voices for Reproductive Health - Tanzania

The project aims to enable women to better articulate their reproductive needs and rights through the establishment of community-based mechanisms that give them a stronger voice in securing quality sexual and reproductive health care. It will also encourage more interaction between health care providers and users.

Central to the project is women's empowerment, as the bottom line to strengthen women's voices for quality reproductive health care. "Knowledge in reproductive health and rights empowers women to make informed decisions regarding their sexual and reproductive health.

The organisers believe good quality of care provides women with the information and services they need to lead healthier, more productive lives.

Pilot activities are being planned in both the Tanzania mainland and the semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar.

The project's main activities include:

• Disseminating information and building support for the project at national, district and community levels.
• Developing a comprehensive fundraising strategy.
• Reviewing and synthesizing programmes and policies regarding the quality of RSH care with a special focus on the health sector reform process.
• Conducting an assessment of quality of care gaps at the national level and in pilot project sites.
• Disseminating best practices and lessons learned from pilot projects.
• Identifying community-based groups or organizations to work as partners.
• Planning and conducting training on SRH awareness.
• Sensitizing local leaders and relevant stakeholders about sexual and reproductive health, rights and quality of care issues.
• Identifying provider groups and assessing their willingness to participate in a quality of care initiative.
• Undertaking a needs assessment of providers and determining gaps in service provision.
• Conducting training sessions.

Development Issues
Health

"By bringing together users and providers, Stronger Voices seeks to bridge their unique perspectives and experiences toward improved quality and reproductive health for all."

The organisers believe improving quality of care is a cost-effective way of achieving better reproductive and sexual health for women and men. "If clients are treated with respect and their particular needs taken into account, they will use services more often and gain confidence in understanding their reproductive health."

The project's objectives are:

• To strengthen the national coalition of government agencies and NGOs and their commitment to providing quality sexual and reproductive health care.
• To seek commitment and support from national and international organizations and identify sources of funding for phase II.
• To assess existing knowledge regarding the quality of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care, with a focus on demand issues influencing the provision of SRH care.
• To establish community-based initiatives that empower clients, ensure their rights and enable them to work with providers in improving the quality of reproductive and sexual health care offered.
• To support providers in their efforts at improving the quality of service delivery.

Partners
UNFPA, ILO/STEP, UNICEF, and WHO