RP to host int’l confab on reproductive health

The Philippines will host the first-ever international conference on reproductive health management.

Slated at the Westin Philippine Plaza on May 3 to 5, the conference will gather the world’s leaders, managers and advocates in the reproductive health sector, according to the Asia Pacific RH Development Center of the Philippine NGO Support Program Inc. (Phansup).

"The conference, supported by the European Commission, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and the United Nations Population Fund, will address the global issues and challenges confronting many countries and organizations in implementing reproductive health programs and carrying out pertinent interventions," said Phansup executive director Roberto A.O. Nebrida.

"Specifically, the conference will help participants, not only on the technical, but also on the management aspects of reproductive health interventions in a community development context," Nebrida added.

The event comes after more than a decade since the staging in Cairo, Egypt of the International Conference on Population and Development, and highlights the sixth year of the global pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals.

With the theme "Creating Impact in Communities," the First International Conference on Reproductive Health Management will have plenary and parallel sessions, skill-building workshops, exhibits, field visits, donor forum, youth leaders’ congress, socials and networking nights, and showcases, posters and film showings.

The event will be a neutral venue to discuss issues, concerns, lessons and opportunities in pursuing reproductive health as a vehicle for community development.

The conference tracks focus on the six functional areas of reproductive health management – governance, policy, ethics and standards; organization and human resource development and management; knowledge management; service delivery and operations management; resource mobilization, partnership and alliance building; and social entrepreneurship and enterprise development, institutionalization and sustainability.

Leading personalities in the field of reproductive health, management and community development were invited as presenters and discussants.

To be highlighted in each session are adolescent and youth reproductive health and rights, family planning, maternal and child health and nutrition, men’s reproductive health and involvement, education and counseling on sexuality and sexual health, prevention and treatment of infertility and sexual disorders, and prevention and management of violence against women, reproductive health infections, sexually transmitted illnesses, abortion and its complications, breast and reproductive tract cancers and other gynecological conditions.

For inquiries on registration, abstract presentations, exhibit, and sponsorships, contact event manager Worldexco at 632-8558343, fax at 632-8558346, e-mail to [email protected], or log on to www.worldexco.com.

In collaboration with leading local and international reproductive health and management entities, the conference is organized by Phansup, a non-government organization that provides technical and financial support to community-based and focused groups in building and strengthening their capabilities to implement reproductive health and community development programs and projects.