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WELCOME
The U.S. Agency for
International
Development (USAID),
in conjunction with its
interagency working
group The PAC
Connection, has
launched this e-
newsletter to provide a
forum for sharing and
exchanging information
on USAID-funded work
on postabortion care
(PAC).
The purpose of this
publication is to:
- Share programmatic
experiences and
research results
relevant to PAC
programs.
- Update readers on the
USAID Global PAC
Resource Package,
including materials for
PAC programs, such
as policy documents
and training materials.
- Exchange information
about events in
Washington and in
the field.
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SUMMER 2014
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IN THIS ISSUE
PAC Connection: Who We Are, What We Do
The PAC Connection, established in 2008, is the interagency working group of U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)–funded postabortion care (PAC) programs. The PAC Connection is open to all USAID-funded organizations and USAID Missions that are currently implementing or interested in starting PAC programs. Read more.
Highlights from the Global PAC Resource Package: Client-Provider Communication Materials
The PAC Global Resources Package is a comprehensive, standardized, scientifically accurate, and evidence-based repository of basic instruments intended for policymakers and program planners who are designing or revising their current PAC program. To help PAC programs improve client-provider communications, one section of the Global PAC Resource Package consists of 13 materials that were developed to provide ready-to-use or adaptable materials, such as a clinic poster, client brochure, provider checklist, and community meeting guide, among other materials. Check out the client-provider communication resources, along with a variety of other free PAC programming and advocacy tools, here.
NEW RESOURCES
PAC Program Assessment in Burkina Faso, Guinea, Senegal, and Togo
The USAID-funded Evidence to Action (E2A) Project recently published its assessment of efforts to strengthen PAC services in Burkina Faso, Guinea, Senegal, and Togo from 2008 to 2012. The assessment followed the implementation of action plans by these four countries for strengthening postabortion family planning (FP) services. The action plans were drafted by participants, policymakers, and program managers at a meeting in Saly, Senegal, in 2008 and were refined under the Virtual Fostering Change Program for PAC. The goal of the assessment was to highlight successes achieved to date, as well as to identify the processes needed to strengthen and scale up postabortion FP counseling and service delivery.
The assessment report is published in English and French and corresponds to four shorter technical briefs (Burkina Faso, Guinea, Senegal, and Togo) that E2A published earlier this year that summarize the findings from each of the countries.
Meeting Report: Second Regional Francophone West Africa PAC Meeting: Strengthening Postabortion Family Planning in Saly, Senegal
E2A has published a report on the second regional meeting for Francophone West African countries on PAC, held October 2013 in Saly, Senegal. The meeting was led by the USAID PAC Working Group, Centre Régional de Formation, de Recherche et de Plaidoyer en Santé de la Reproduction (CEFOREP), the RESPOND Project and E2A. E2A disseminated findings from its assessment of PAC programs in Burkina Faso, Guinea, Senegal, and Togo at the meeting, and representatives from Francophone West African countries came together with local and international implementing partners and donors to share knowledge about PAC best practices and to develop roadmaps for strengthening PAC programs in their countries. Summaries of presentations from that conference and other supporting information are found in the report.
Essential Elements of Postabortion Care: Service Delivery Barriers and Resources
This compendium of resources, compiled by the PAC Consortium Service Delivery Task Force, provides strategies and tools to reduce barriers to service delivery. The list is meant to be not an exhaustive list of all resources related to each barrier, but a compendium of tools that can be used by health workers and other professionals to overcome barriers to comprehensive PAC services. The barriers and resources are organized into categories based on the Essential Elements of PAC model.
MEETINGS & CONFERENCES
ICM 30th Triennial Congress
On June 1-4, 2014, the 30th Triennial Congress of the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) took place in Prague, Czech Republic. This year, USAID hosted a plenary session on FP at the congress with more than 200 people in attendance. Scott Radloff of the Gates Institute, Roy Jacobstein of the RESPOND Project, Carolyn Curtis of USAID, and Feddy Mwanga of the RESPOND Tanzania Project conducted a panel presentation offering a global overview of FP and the impact that postabortion FP has on breaking the cycle of unintended pregnancies.
At this meeting, USAID and ICM sponsored FP Fellowships to recognize midwives from the 24 USAID priority countries. Six fellows attended the congress, from Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Rwanda. The Fellows made presentations to USAID and RESPOND on their FP activities in their countries and how they would use the information gained at the ICM Congress to improve FP services. Three of the Fellows are leaders in their national midwifery associations and represented their associations at the Pre-Congress Council meeting, which is a gathering of midwifery leaders from 95 countries. At the Council meeting, the Fellows were able to observe Executive and Board members of the ICM to gain a better understanding of how the ICM works, how it moves policy and creates joint statements, and other business.
PAC Connection Semiannual Meeting
The PAC Connection holds meetings twice yearly to provide technical updates on PAC programs, as well as to discuss further work that needs to be accomplished in PAC in upcoming workplans. On June 24, 2014, the PAC Connection held its summer semiannual meeting at the E2A Project office of Pathfinder International in Washington, DC. More than 25 participants from 13 organizations attended to hear updates and discuss next steps for partner organizations implementing PAC programs. Meeting participants shared technical updates from recent work on PAC in Tanzania, the Health Policy Project’s PAC Research Compendium, the ICM Triennial Congress, a checklist programming tool for postabortion FP, and the PAC Consortium’s recent activities and upcoming plans. Participants from Ipas, Jhpiego, E2A, and Abt Associates also gave brief updates on their organizations’ PAC work. Read the PAC Connection Semiannual Meeting Highlights here. The Fall/Winter PAC Connection meeting will be organized by Knowledge for Health (K4Health) in December; the exact date is yet to be determined. We invite virtual participation from USAID missions and their bilateral partners and will make accommodations to ensure virtual participation.
PAC CONNECTION SECRETARIAT NEWS
On October 1, 2014, the PAC Connection Secretariat will shift to the K4Health Project, led by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Communication Programs (JHU•CCP). The new point of contact for the PAC Connection Secretariat will be Elizabeth Tully (elizabeth.tully@jhu.edu). Any questions regarding the PAC Secretariat can be forwarded to her or to Carolyn Curtis at USAID—ccurtis@usaid.gov.
CALLING ALL READERS
We welcome your feedback and suggestions for articles or information that you would like to see featured in this newsletter, as well as article submissions from PAC Connection partners. We encourage you to share this newsletter with partners in the field who are implementing or may be interested in implementing PAC programs.
To subscribe or submit comments or suggestions, please contact Elizabeth Tully (elizabeth.tully@jhu.edu) at The PAC Connection Secretariat. |
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