ReachOut Foundation International

ReachOut Foundation International originated in 1990 when a group of theater and movie artists joined together to stage the play, Divine Miss M.The play was about a Filipino who died of AIDS and was staged to help bring awareness to the AIDS problem in the Philippines.It eventually led to the first AIDS organization in the Philippines, ReachOut AIDS Education.ReachOut strategically evolved into a reproductive health service organization.In 1997, the foundation was renamed as ReachOut Reproductive Health Foundation.In 200, the foundation was renamed to, ReachOut Foundation International. [ [http://www.reachout-foundation.org/default2.asp ReachOut Foundation International ] ] [cite web
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Reproductive Health Centers

ReachOut has set up these centers, known as Safe Shops, in the cities of Manila, Pasay, Angeles and Baguio.The Safe Shops provide education, counseling and clinical services on reproductive health, including:Family Planning; Maternal and Child Health; Prevention of and Management of the Complications of Abortion; Prevention and Tretment of Reproductive Tract Infection and other Gynecological Conditions; Treatment of Infertility; Screening for Breast and Reproductive Tract Cancers; Education and Counseling on Sexuality and Sexual Health; Violence Against Women; Adoloscent Reporductive Health; and Men's Reproductive Health. [ [http://www.reachout-foundation.org/projects.html ReachOut Foundation International ] ]

Training Programs

ReachOut designs and conducts training for its own staff as well as participants from other organizations. [ [http://www.reachout-foundation.org/projects.html ReachOut Foundation International ] ]

Research Programs

ReachOut conducts operations research as well as basic and secondary research for use of its own projects and clients.Research efforts include:Sero-surveillance for syphilis, gonorheas and HIV; Behavioural surveillance of sentinel groups (men who have sex with men, male and female sex workers, and men with STDs); Impact evaluation of projects; Focus groups discussions for pre-testing of IEC materials; and National media reach surveys. [ [http://www.reachout-foundation.org/projects.html ReachOut Foundation International ] ]

Angeles

With funding from USAID, PATH, and FHI launched a comprehensive AIDS/STD prevention program targeting the brothel-based female sex workers and their partners in Angeles.The program comprised of peer counseling, IEC distribution, group discussions, treatment of STDs, HIV antibody testing, provision of condoms and advocacy among local leaders.ReachOut was able to establish a satellite clinic for the sex workers.The clients were empowered to use condoms and go for regular screening for STDs. The project also networked with other NGOs and government agencies to provide other reproductive health services to the women. [ [http://gateway.nlm.nih.gov/MeetingAbstracts/102250081.html An AIDS/STD prevention program in a prostitution-based slum community ] ]

Manila

ReachOut Foundation was awarded a grant by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH) to implement an STD/AIDS Education program targeting male dock workers.The project components are: peer education, interpersonal communication and counseling, IEC materials production and distribution, condom distribution and lecture presentations.

TI/HIV/AIDS Prevention Education Project for MSMs in Bauang, La Union and San Fernando, Pampanga

The project aimed to contribute to the national goal of preventing the further spread of STI/HIV/AIDS infection and reduce its impact on those who are already infected and affected.To achieve this, ReachOut aimed to improve the target population’s knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding STI/HIV/AIDS through the promotion of healthy sexual behaviour and provision of preventive education, risk reduction and empowerment counselling using peer support mechanisms. [ [http://www.reachout-foundation.org/project1.html ReachOut Foundation International ] ]

Reproductive Health Program For Street Youth

ReachOut Foundation developed a street youth project in the city of Manila with the assistance of Family Planning International Agency. The project serves a hard-to-reach population of indigent and low-income street-based and community-based youth especially those involved in sex work between the ages of 10 to 24 years of age. This provides previously unavailable reproductive health services in catchment areas such as squatter settlements in port areas and city parks. The street youth are currently being served through the community-based outreach and peer education work, the back-up clinic at the project's youth center and the outreach medical mission van. Contraceptive services, STD/RTI medical treatment, sexuality education, counseling services and laboratory testing for HIV/Syphilis/Hepatitis B are being provided. [ [http://gateway.nlm.nih.gov/MeetingAbstracts/102227953.html Developing a comprehensive reproductive health program for street youth involved in sex work ] ]

Public Service Advertising On Child Prostitution

ReachOut Foundation, the Department of Health and PATH Foundation Philippines, designed a media campaign to target primarily buyers and sellers of child sex workers.By linking the issue of sexual abuse of children to STD and HIV, the campaign hopes the target audience will modify its prevailing practices and attitudes.The media campaign also seeks to motivate policymakers and other concerned groups to guarantee that children everywhere enjoy their fundamental rights free and secure from all forms of sexual exploitation. [ [http://www.kit.nl/exchange/html/1998_1_philippines_public_serv.asp 1998_1_philippines public service ] ]

Public Service Media Campaign on Reproductive Health

ReachOut Foundation, with funding from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and McCann-Erickson Philippines to design a media campaign to introduce the term "reproductive health" (or RH) to the public.

Mission Statement

ReachOut Foundation International is a Philippines-based civil society organization committed to improving the quality of life of underserved, marginalized, and vulnerable populations.It provides affordable reproductive health services and products in a non-judgmental, non-discriminatory, innovative, gender-sensitive, and responsible manner.To achieve these, it continuously undertakes training, information dissemination, and advocacy for policy and behavioral changes.

ee also

* Charities in the Philippines

References