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Forum presents research findings on risks, vulnerabilities of seamen's wives |
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Posted on 30 April 2009 To share the major findings of ADB RETA 6143 among concerned stakeholders, a Final Dissemination Forum was held on 20 March 2009 at the Astoria Plaza Hotel, Pasig City with senior officials of the Department of Health (DOH), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), and the Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC); ADB, UN organizations, and the private sector (seafarers’ wives’ associations, crewing agencies, and maritime schools), and the consultant team. In welcoming the participants, Ms. Barbara Lochmann, Senior Social Sector Specialist of ADB’s Southeast Asia Social Sectors Division, acknowledged how the technical assistance (TA) accomplished its objectives with regard to improving the overall knowledge on HIV prevention and SRH of female spouses. She, however, stressed the need to follow up on the gains of the project in the context of the global financial crisis saying, "it may have a dramatic impact in the near future on the lives of thousands and millions of migrant works in Southeast Asia and especially the Philippines--one of the largest providers of OFWs." Particularly, Ms Lochmann suggested that new strategies to reduce HIV vulnerability among returning migrant workers or those moving overseas in search of jobs have to be identified. She also mentioned that it is essential that the findings of this TA be rapidly scaled up and translated into policy to protect migrant workers and their families in the future as some countries are taking increasingly protectionist measures on migrants. Dr. Yolanda E. Oliveros, Director IV of the National Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Department of Health (DOH-NCDPC) articulated how the government values the contribution of the seafarers to the economy of the country and how they should be protected. Started in May 2008, this Gender and Cooperation Fund-sponsored project aims to complement the objectives of RETA 6321- Subproject 5 (Strengthening Country Response to HIV/AIDS among High-risk Groups), which provides technical assistance to DOH, local government units (LGUs), and NGOs in strengthening the country response to HIV/AIDS. The Forum presented research highlights of "A Qualitative Study of the Personal and Structural Determinants of the Risks and Vulnerabilities of Filipino Seafarers to HIV Infection and other Reproductive Health Problems" and "Gender-Specific Vulnerabilities of Women Who Inject Drugs in Metro Cebu and Zamboanga City" by RETA 6143 researchers Dr. Carol Sobritchea and Dr. Fiscalina Nolasco, respectively. Their presentations were preceded by an overview on HIV Prevention for Female Spouses of Seafarers by Ms. Ma. Lourdes Marin, Project Team Leader. (Arvin Yana /PRIMEX) |
