Summary

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With the generous support of the European Commission and in cooperation with the Syrian Family Planning Association (SFPA), AIDOS, an Italian non-government organisation for women, established Counselling Centres for Women in Damascus. Established in 1981, AIDOS works for the economic empowerment of women and promotion of women's rights across the world. The aim of the AIDOS project in Syria is to improve the physical, psychological and social well being of Syrian women, adolescents and men by providing reproductive health services. Through pregnancy and post-natal monitoring and promoting family planning practices, the Halbuni Clinic provides gynaecological counselling to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality.

The clinic also provides Syrian medical workers, lawyers and health counsellors the opportunity to support their peer groups in combating domestic violence, resolving conflict in marriages, facilitating access to justice and increasing awareness of rights. Through better knowledge of rights and skills to participate in decision making processes, AIDOS supports the empowerment of women among poor and marginalised sections of society. It is expected that the government and the trained staff of the clinic will continue the services and provide sustainability to the centre after the project is over. Frequent workshops, community meetings, awareness campaigns and individual home visits constitute the basis of spreading information to reach out and assist the maximum possible number of women.

The staff comprises a team of professionals, essentially women, who share knowledge and experience. The presence of women staff encourages women to avail the services of the centre since they find it easier to communicate their problems to other women. Each case is thoroughly considered with a view to providing the most accurate support possible on the medical, psychological, legal, and physical dimensions. Health care, prevention, education and follow up are provided to ensure women’s well-being and health through their entire life cycle from adolescence until after menopause.

The project applies a model, already tested over the past decade by AIDOS in six other countries including the Gaza Strip, Jordan, Venezuela, Argentina, Nepal, Burkina Faso. The methodology used has proved to be flexible and adaptable to different cultural, social, political, religious contexts.

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