Solutions Panorama

Use Radio to Protect Adolescent and
LGBTIQ Rights
Radio is an effective source of health
information in many resource-poor countries.
The Malawi Communications Regulatory
Authority is currently producing interactive
health-talk radio programs to change
attitudes towards adolescent sexuality and
expand tolerance of LGBTIQ people. Plays
and interactive dialogue are broadcast
throughout district airwaves, followed by
in-person educational programs that target
and capitalize on the influence of community
leaders, school administrators, prison
officers, and health workers to encourage
greater access to Adolescent-Friendly Health
Services and to discourage early and forced
marriage. Radio transmission of sexuality
education reached about 15 percent of
Malawi’s population, including 78,000 people
in Mangochi district alone. Telephone surveys
showed a change in attitude regarding
child marriage and LGBTIQ rights after the
programs aired.
Learn more: macra.org.mw
Prime Women to Become Climate
Leaders
Train Pharmacists in Abortion Drug
Counseling
In Cambodia, most medical abortion drugs
are sold without a prescription through
pharmacies, often without proper information
on usage. Population Services Khmer is using
Provider Behavior Change Communication
to help increase the knowledge and correct
dispensing practices by pharmacy staff for
safe medical abortion products. Under this
harm reduction strategy, Population Services
Khmer educates pharmacists on safe and
unsafe medical abortion drugs, determining
gestational age, and correct counseling and
dosing information. The strategy involves
holding discussions with pharmacy staff,
tracking provider performance, and using
mystery patient surveys to measure behavior
change. Among pharmacies participating
in the project, several measures improved:
pharmacists more frequently provided correct
dosage and usage instruction, counseling on
side effects, and counseling on family planning
post-abortion, and more patients were
referred to Comprehensive Abortion Care
services when signs of incomplete abortion
were present.
Learn more: psi.org
As part of the United Nations Development
Programme’s Africa Adaptation Program,
Nigeria implemented a skills development
program specifically focused on broadening
women’s knowledge and leadership potential
in climate change decision-making. The
program analyzed the impacts of climate
change as well as policy, regulatory, and
financing issues. It emphasized educating
women on international climate change
negotiations and developing women’s
leadership in key institutions, including the
Ministry of Women’s A ffairs, state and local
governments, and in civil society.
Learn more: www.undp.org
WOMEN DELIVER 2016 CONFERENCE: SOLUTIONS PANORAMA 132