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The Second Annual Boston Events for the Women's Health Project of South Africa In March, Boston was host to events marking the second annual visit of representatives from the Women's Health Project (WHP) of South Africa. This year's activities featured a health care forum open to the public, a presentation at the National Network of Grantmakers meeting, and a private reception for local supporters of WHP. Building on themes related to health care delivery in a pluralistic society, South Africa Partners worked with 20 co-sponsoring organizations, to organize Sisters Crossing Bridges, a collaborative Boston-area International Women's Day event held on March 9th. The forum brought together health care providers and women's advocates to explore opportunities and challenges in providing comprehensive health care for women from diverse backgrounds. The half-day session, held at the YWCA Boston, attracted more than 100 women and men representing a broad range of organizations who shared professional as well as personal experiences. Marti Wilson-Taylor, Chair of South Africa Partners and President & CEO of the YWCA Boston moderated the opening plenary which included a welcome from Ambassador Sheila Sisulu, South African Ambassador to the United States and presentations by Dr. JudyAnn Bigby, Medical Director of the Center for Perinatal and Family Health at Brigham and Women's Hospital; Maria Aguiar, co-author of Nuestras Vidas, Nuetros Cuerpos; and Mbangi Dzivhani and Sanjani Varkey, representatives of WHP. In their remarks, panelists explored the difficulties in reaching under-served communities when cultural insensitivities are present in the delivery of services. Historical barriers, like those faced by women of color, stressed Dr. Bigby, have kept the percentage of ethnically diverse health care workers low. This in turn, has added to the problems of cultural insensitivity because those seeking health care do not encounter providers able to speak directly to their particular experiences. Maria Aguiar challenged participants to develop a more inclusive definition of health care, one that not only takes into account mortality and morbidity, but also embraces issues related to women's well-being. It is not enough to treat specific illnesses if women must return to communities and families that are burdened by issues related to poverty. The conditions of women's everyday lives cannot be separated from the treatment of their bodies. Sisters Crossing Bridges also provided local organizations the opportunity to learn from the successful strategies developed by the Women's Health Project, an independently funded non-governmental organization in South Africa that was begun in 1991 to develop integrated, quality women's health services. Through its ongoing programs, WHP is helping to develop a vibrant national women's health movement with national and international recognition. Their efforts in supporting women=s health needs includes the integration of the women's health movement with other movements for social justice. Both Mbangi Dzivhani and Sanjani Varkey spoke of their organization's struggles and successes in placing women's issues onto South Africa's national development agenda. Participants were introduced to WHP's unique ability to operate successfully on both the grassroots and policy level, a situation made possible because so many of those working in national government today were, until a few years ago, actively involved in local grassroots organizations. Describing WHP's most recent program, Mbangi Dzivhani detailed thework of The Sexual Rights Campaign which seeks to empower women about rights they can exercise related to their sexual lives. At a time when South Africa faces the fastest growing HIV infection rate in the world, The Sexual Rights Campaign is of critical importance. From the positive comments received in evaluations, Sisters Crossing Bridges was an important first step in bringing a diverse group of organizations and individuals together to discuss issues of shared concern. Introducing the South African perspective helped to enrich the discussion, contributing to a more complex understanding of the issues and potential solutions associated with health care delivery to a diverse constituency. Sisters Crossing Bridges was only the first of several activities featuring the women from WHP. As part of their stay in the US, Mbangi and Sanjani also participated as presenters at the National Network of Grantmakers Conference held in Boston. Their presentation, part of a panel entitled The Impact of Globalization on Women, provided an important opportunity to share WHP's strategies with a group of funders supporting women's health care advocacy around the world. South Africa Partners was also very pleased to host an evening fundraising reception for Mbangi and Sanjani at the home of Ellen Sarkisian and John Maher. This opportunity for a more in-depth discussion about the work of WHP helped to raise $13,000 for the organization. Plans are already underway for the 3rd annual visit of the Women's Health Project. If you would like to become involved, please contact us.
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