Meeting the Sexual and Reproductive Health Including HIV Needs of South Sudanese Refugees in Gambella, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Sexual and reproductive health services are more often than not perceived as low in the hierarchy of needs during humanitarian crisis yet populations in crisis need and have a right to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. A project to meet the SRH needs of South Sudanese refugees was designed and implemented in Ethiopia. Methods: A post emergency review was done to assess performance of the project. A desk review; 10 key informant interviews with project management staff, partners and beneficiaries; 5 focus group discussions (FGDs) with a total of 42 participants representing adult men/women and boys/girls was done. Thematic and content analyses approach was used for data analysis. Description: United high commission for refugees (UNHCR) estimates over 190,000 people were displaced into Ethiopia during the 2013/2014 South Sudan crisis. A project was designed and implemented through a partnership between the international planned parenthood federation Africa Region (IPPFAR) and the International Medical Corp (IMC). The response was guided by five minimum initial service package (MISP) objectives; sector/cluster coordination, prevention of sexual violence, reduction of HIV transmission, prevention of excess maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity and provision of comprehensive reproductive health (RH) services. The project reached 88,869 refugees. Lessons Learnt: Timely and speedy implementation of MISP at the onset of crisis and sustaining it throughout the crisis is critical and saves lives. A transitioning plan to ensure continuum of care is important for this type of intervention. Understanding the HIV in crisis settings and providing it in an integrated package reduces stigma and ignorance and increase demand for services. Conclusions: On commencement it is necessary to conduct a rapid assessment to establish the baseline. Provision of HIV services as part of the integrated package was not well covered largely due to stigma attached to the disease and ignorance. A better understanding of the implementation environment would have achieved a more meaningful intervention.