Good sexual and reproductive health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being in all matters relating to the reproductive system. It implies that people are able to have a satisfying and safe sex life, the capability to reproduce, and the freedom to decide if, when, and how often to do so. Every individual has the right to make their own choices about their sexual and reproductive health. UNFPA, together with a wide range of partners, works toward the goal of universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, including family planning. The International Conference on Population and Development draws a clear connection between reproductive health, human rights and sustainable development. When sexual and reproductive health needs are not met, individuals are deprived of the right to make crucial choices about their own bodies and futures, with a cascading impact on their families’ welfare and future generations.
Strengthened evidence-based policy frameworks and institutional mechanisms to deliver integrated sexual and reproductive health services for women and youth, with a focus on vulnerable populations and humanitarian settings is one of the main programmatic priorities for UNFPA in Georgia. The programme interventions focus on supporting policy frameworks and health institutions for ensuring equitable access to high-quality, integrated reproductive health services, including maternal care, cervical cancer screening and HIV prevention; and addressing the unmet need for family planning through advocacy and technical support.
UNFPA advocates for integrating the delivery of SRH services into primary health care, so it is as accessible as possible. This means, for instance, that a woman could address her family planning, antenatal care, HIV testing and general health needs all in one place.
UNFPA activities in Georgia focus on:
- Supporting improved Maternal health;
- Advocacy and policy advice for increased access to safe, voluntary family planning
- Launching and expanding organized national cervical cancer screening programmes in accordance with internationally recommended guidelines and country context; generating evidence and undertaking efforts to achieve high coverage in targeted populations; and, ensuring strong linkages between screening programmes and referral services for definite diagnosis and treatment.
- Supporting increased access of the conflict-affected population in Abkhazia, Georgia to the high-quality SRH health services, including cervical cancer screening and modern family planning methods.
- Strengthening Youth SRH through capacity building of School Health Professionals on Adolescent and Youth SRH, Communication skills, Healthy life-style, Mental Health and First Aid
- Strengthening health system response to gender-based violence as integral component of the multi-sectoral response.
