Embassy Press Release

THE ROMANIAN FAMILY HEALTH INITIATIVE - A SUCCESS STORY IN FAMILY PLANNING

September 12, 2007

Today, the "Romanian Family Health Initiative" (RFHI) – a partnership established by the Governments of Romania and the United States with JSI Research and Training Institute – celebrated its remarkable success at a conference held at the Hilton Hotel in Bucharest. During the conference, the 200 participants reviewed RFHI’s achievements, good-practice models, and the sustainability of its program. Romania is now regarded as the regional leader in family planning and women’s health services.

Mr. Eugen Nicolaescu, Minister of Public Health, Ms. Debra Mosel, Acting Director, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Dr. Vasile Ciurchea, President, National Health Insurance House, Dr. Zoe Bitea, Deputy Director, Bihor District Public Health Authority, Mr. Theo Leppeveld, Vice President, JSI Research and Training Institute, and Dr. Merce Gasco, Chief, JSI Advisory Team, discussed the Initiative’s substantial benefits for Romanian families.

For seventeen years, the U.S. Government provided technical assistance to the Government of Romania and NGOs regarding family planning and reproductive health in Romania. With an investment of $ 44 million, of which US $19 million supported RFHI, the U.S. Government, through USAID, helped increase the use of modern family planning methods, enhance prenatal and postnatal care, and combat the stigma and discrimination affecting people living with HIV/AIDS. Since 1993, the proportion of couples using modern contraception has risen from 14 percent to more than 40 percent. RFHI also contributed to the decrease of infant and maternal mortality rates. Family planning services are now provided in more than 80 percent of the primary health care centres nationwide. RFHI leaves behind a pool of professionals providing patient-centred family planning services. More than 200 Roma health mediators, who promote family planning services in Roma communities, were trained by this program. Today, family planning is an integral part of Romania’s National Reproductive Health Strategy.

RFHI also provided reproductive health information and education. The first health education mini-series on national television, “Real Women,” had a huge impact on Romanian women and their attitudes towards their own health. Under the slogan, “OpenYour Heart!” Romanian NGOs implemented several widespread education programs for young people.

To ensure long-term, self-sustaining NGOs in the field of reproductive health, RFHI provided partner NGOs with the tools necessary to access public and private funding, including EU structural funds.

At the press conference Ms. Debra Mosel, USAID Acting Director, quoted Dr. Robert Hatcher, one of America’s foremost family planning experts, who, during a recent visit to Romania, said: “Romania is the most remarkable example of national family planning success story."

For more information, contact:
Alina Panait, USAID Health Specialist
021 316 1222

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