Preparation for the New Project
on Reproductive Health
with Community Initiative in Myanmar

In 2002, JOICFP proposed a RH project in Myanmar with financial assistance from JICA, in cooperation with the Department of Health (DOH), Ministry of Health (MOH), and by June 2004, the first preparatory study mission had taken place. From 6th to 23rd July, the second preparatory mission, comprising three JOICFP staff, a JICA representative and an independent consultant visited Myanmar to organize Project Cycle Management (PCM) workshops to develop the Project Design Matrix (PDM).

The facilitator makes a point
during group discussions in Kyaukme

Two PCM workshops with 20 representatives each were held in the project areas, namely Kyaukme and Naungcho Townships in Shan State to exchange and discuss the opinions for better understanding of the real RH issues in Myanmar, and identified suitable methods to solve RH problems based on the community needs.

The community representatives explained that abortion was a concern, but that people were afraid to seek medical services as they had little trust in them. Other issues presented included lack of education, difficulties in transportation, lack of supplies, gender issues, and management weakness.

Constructing an 'objective tree'
in group work in Naungcho

Based on the above problem analysis, three major approaches were identified to solve the problems. The major approaches are: 1) to improve the quality of RH services provided at township level and downwards, with special focus on safe motherhood, 2) to improve awareness and knowledge on RH issues among community people, particularly women in reproductive age, and 3) to enhance management and technical capacity of the DOH and other related GOs/NGOs.
The workshops specifically aimed to raise the awareness and build the ownership of the community toward community-oriented RH, and the identified approaches and output from the workshops were incorporated into the PDM.