Pathfinder International

Pathfinder archives now open at Harvard Medical School's Countway Library! We're thrilled to announce that Pathfinder's historical archives, spanning three decades of work in sexual and reproductive health, are officially open for research at the Countway Library's Center for the History of Medicine. This donation reflects our commitment to transparency and self-examination. It's a crucial step towards understanding our past and shaping a more equitable future for our organization and the global health movement. An event at the Library last week, a celebration of partnership and progress, marked the collection's opening with insightful discussions. Dr. Lia Tadesse, former Ethiopian Minister of Health, highlighted Pathfinder's role in training health extension workers in the country. Dr. Scott Podolsky, Countway Library Director, emphasized the unique nature of this donation, built on openness and reflection. Collin Mothupi, Pathfinder Board Chair, described the journey of opening the archives and its importance for learning from the past. And, Crystal Lander, Pathfinder Executive Vice President, stressed the value of a complete and critical reflection of our history. The archives offer researchers and the public a window into Pathfinder's evolution and the broader field of sexual and reproductive health. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/esMpP6rj #SRHR #ReproductiveRights #CountwayLibrary #Archives #Transparency #GlobalHealth

Young people represent the largest demographic in many of the communities we serve, making their involvement critical to building inclusive, resilient health systems and sustainable development. Since 1988, we have partnered with Kenyatta University to support youth leadership and community health initiatives. We recently trained community health promoters to enhance health education and outreach and supported the institution to become the first university in Kenya to establish a university-owned, student-led community health unit - a pioneering model for institutional community health units. With Nairobi City County exploring ways to replicate and scale this model, Kenyatta University’s initiative will serve as a blueprint for other institutions. Additionally, as part of our ongoing efforts, Pathfinder International Kenya recently donated branded reflector jackets to KU’s peer counsellors. Though a small gesture, these reflectors will enhance visibility and recognition for student counsellors conducting vital peer education and outreach across the campus. We are proud of the impact that youth-led programs like these have in promoting gender equity and advancing community health. By ensuring youth are empowered to lead and manage health units, Pathfinder and Kenyatta University are building a pathway for other institutions to follow and sustain community-driven solutions. Investing in youth and advancing gender equity today, means securing a healthier, more equitable future for everyone. Pamela Onduso Sharon Atieno Ouma Onyango #YouthLeadership #GenderEquity #SRHR #YouthFriendlyServices Pictured: Oumar Onyango, Malvin Otieno, Angela Nabwire, Grace Mwikali, Sarah Momanyi, Steven Obiero // Malvin Otieno // Malvin Otieno, Sharon Atieno, Steven Obiero

We’re proud to share a new publication highlighting the USAID Uganda Family Planning Activity's (USAID/FPA) successful implementation of the Beyond Bias approach as part of efforts to expand access to quality health services for all. From 2022 to 2024, Beyond Bias addressed provider bias in 11 districts across Uganda. This project ensured 15-24 year olds received empathetic, nonjudgmental counseling and access to a full range of contraceptive methods, regardless of marital status or parity. The results are clear: • Increased provider capacity: Qualitative data suggests providers felt more equipped to deliver youth responsive services. • Shifting mindsets: One midwife shared that Beyond Bias, "has transformed our approach. Now, adolescents receive priority counseling and suitable methods." • Supporting young people: Beyond Bias enabled young people to seek and access essential sexual and reproductive health information and services. The new publication, "Addressing Provider Bias to Deliver Quality Sexual and Reproductive Health Information and Services to Young People," delves deeper into this success story, offering key lessons and recommendations for implementing Beyond Bias and similar interventions and effectively addressing provider bias to improve youth access to sexual and reproductive health services. https://lnkd.in/eWAYR84Z #PathfinderUganda #BeyondBias #SRHR Daniele Nyirandutiye Dr. Richard Kabanda, PhD, MPH, MBA, FAIPH RITAH WADDIMBA Ministry of Health - Uganda Pride Ashaba Asiimwe Albert Suzanne Atim Courtney L. Boudreau, DrPH Thomas Emeetai Elizabeth Futrell Kenneth Wenani Ann Mbeiza Praise Mwesiga Cissy Namakula marta pirzadeh Espilidon Tumukurate

As members of CORE Group we are thrilled to be participating at this year's Global Health Practitioners Conference taking place in Nairobi on the 28th to 31st October 2024. This year's theme “Healthy Communities: Sustainable Environments”, aims to bring together stakeholders to discuss equitable solutions for pressing health needs due to the interface between Communities, Climate, and how Collaboration will improve health, enable quality programs, and advance coherent policies for Primary Health Care and beyond. At Pathfinder, we apply locally led solutions to climate and health resilience, delivering crucial services to women and girls while helping communities adapt to the climate crisis. We would be sharing more of our work as we will be hosting two concurrent session on the 29th and 30th October with presentations centered on "Population, Health, and Environment: Strengthening the resilience of communities in Tanzania through multisectoral collaboration" and "Addressing Climate Change and Women’s Health through an Integrated Approach" Be sure to stop by our booth if you will be attending to know more about or programs globally! https://lnkd.in/etJg2eVM #GHPC24 #climate #communities #collaboration Ruth Ngechu Pamela Onduso, MPH Sharon Atieno Joram Sunguti Luke Ouma Onyango

Girls who do not attend school are particularly at risk for early marriage and unwanted pregnancy. That's why, for the past six years in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), we've supported early marriage prevention campaigns, through our USAID-funded PROSANI project. These initiatives work with various groups in nine health zones, including Kasai Central, South Kivu, Tanganyika and Haut-Katanga, taking into account their particular cultural and social specificities. We mobilize all community players around the activities. Recognizing the significant influence mothers, guardians, aunts, and grandmothers play as well as men, boys, teachers, and traditional chiefs - we see them as important allies in the work. We are convinced that integrating the gender dimension into our interventions will help build communities where girls can assert their rights, continue their education, and build the lives they choose. Pictured: Anesthasie Numbie, Technical Assistant to the National Reproductive Health Programme and member of the gender unit taking part in the gender workshop and Mrs Fifi Aningwe, Chair of the gender unit in the health sector of the Haut Katanga, during a gender capacity-building event in Lubumbashi. #HDPnexusRDC #CollectiveoutcomeDRC #PathfinderDRC Embassy of Sweden in Kinshasa

We are excited to participate in the Future of Health Conference themed "Evidence to Action: Building Resilience at the Climate-Health Nexus" holding on the 24th October, 2024 in Abuja, Nigeria. The Future of Health Conference convened by Nigeria Health Watch, aims to provide a platform for interdisciplinary knowledge exchange and collaboration among stakeholders addressing the intersection of climate change and health. As one of the conference sponsors, Pathfinder will be hosting a breakout session titled "Building Climate Resilient Health Systems: Knowledge Exchange for Policy, Practice, and Partnership". If you will be attending in person, stop by our booth to connect with a Pathfinder and learn more about our work! https://lnkd.in/eUHwSawu #climate #PathfinderNigeria Amina Aminu Dorayi

🚨 Mark your calendars for our upcoming webinar on October 30! We've been collaborating with USAID MOMENTUM Integrated Health and FP2030 for the next session in our ongoing webinar series related to emergency preparedness and resilience (EPR) for sexual and reproductive health (SRH). This session will explore how the Minimum Initial Service Package Readiness Assessments (MRAs) process helps countries evaluate and strengthen their preparedness to provide life-saving SRH services during emergencies. Through a collaborative, multi-stakeholder approach, the MRA process identifies key strengths and gaps across areas like policy frameworks, coordination, data collection, service delivery, trained health personnel, equipment, supplies, and funding. Join us to learn more! https://lnkd.in/ecz4N_7G

For five years, Pathfinder Uganda and partners have implemented USAID/Uganda Family Planning Activity (FPA) to support the Ugandan government in increasing the adoption of positive reproductive health behaviors among women, men, and youth. With funding from USAID, the project aimed to contribute to positive long-term changes in modern contraceptive prevalence and fertility rates in Uganda by 2025. USAID/FPA has made remarkable progress in increasing access to and awareness of family planning services. The project not only achieved its objectives but has also had a lasting impact on the communities it reached—enabling women, men, and young people to make informed decisions about their reproductive health. 🗓️ On Thursday, October 24, join Pathfinder, the Ugandan Ministry of Health, and implementing partners for a discussion on how community engagement improved access to reproductive health services in Uganda. Register here: https://bit.ly/3NwRTJw

The future of global health is here! The #ImpactFirst conference was a hub of AI innovation, from data governance to telemedicine. Congratulations to our Digital Innovation team and to Hafiz Saidu Yaro for his excellent presentation on our Geo-ST4R project, showcasing how geospatial technology can improve health outcomes.

One woman in three women will experience gender-based violence in her lifetime - and crisis situations are aggravating factors. It is in this context that, thanks to the support of USAID, our team in Democratic Republic of Congo is helping to disseminate the revised national strategy to combat gender-based violence, and to raise community awareness of the need to take action to end violence against women and girls. Over the past 6 years, as part of USAID's integrated health program, more than one million people have committed to fighting violence against women, girls and young children in 9 provinces supported by the PROSANI USAID project in the DRC, including Kasai Central, Sankuru, Tanganyika and Haut-Katanga. The collection of signatures will continue next November: we invite you to sign to protect more women and girls if you see us collecting signatures at events in DRC! #HDPnexusRDC #Plusfortensemble #CollectiveoutcomeDRC #PathfinderDRC