USAID empowers 25 health workers in Bohol with training on family planning group counseling

TAGBILARAN CITY, BOHOL, PHILIPPINES - The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) recently trained twenty-five (25) nurses and midwives of Bohol Province on Enhanced Usapan, a motivational dialogue on Family Planning. Applauding them for completing the training and see how they apply their newly learned skills, USAID Deputy Mission Director Rebekah Eubanks and Office of Economic Development and Governance (OEDG) Director Jeff Goebel observed their first ever conduct of the Enhanced Usapan.

USAID Deputy Mission Director Rebekah Eubanks hands to one of the trained facilitators her Certificate of Training to mark the completion of her course. With Ms. Eubanks are Mr. Jeff Goebel – Director of USAID Office of Economic Development and Governance and Tagbilaran City Mayor Jane Cajes-Yap. (RTI International).

The activity was held at the Barangay Dao Hall session room in Tagbilaran City where a total of 30 clients in two batches were provided with family planning information and their choice of method. “This is another initiative thataffirms USAID’s commitment to support a healthier Philippines. We congratulate the newly trained health workers who have chosen to be among Bohol’s health champions,” said Ms. Eubanks.

At the same venue, Ms. Eubanks and Mr. Goebel also interacted with the trained facilitators and later, awarded their training certificates. Tagbilaran City Mayor Hon. Jane Censoria Cajes-Yap, who also graced the activity told the visiting party that, “I’d like to thank USAID through this (Enhanced Usapan) program for the opportunity (to learn that) we can safely have family planning safely. Rest assured that I will explore more on this program that this will not be limited to the participants we have today but also to more women in Tagbilaran City.”

CLIENT INTERACTION. From left, Mr. Jeff Goebel – Director of USAID Office of Economic Development and Governance; Tagbilaran City Mayor Jane Cajes-Yap; USAID Deputy Mission Director Rebekah Eubanks; and Dr. Yolanda Oliveros – Deputy Director of USAID Philippines Office of Health listen to one of the Usapan clients (foreground) share her story that led her to seek information about family planning. (RTI International).

The training in Enhanced Usapan, which began in 2019, is among the technical assistance that USAID’s ReachHealth project provided to the health workers in Central Visayas. The Enhanced Usapan training in Bohol began in April this year and is envisioned to contribute to further increase the uptake of family planning services in the province. This will complement the earlier support given by USAID to community health workers in identifying unmet family planning needs of women and men in their communities.

USAID had also distributed family planning information materials to the rural health units to aid health workers in their discussions with clients who visit the health facilities, as well as promote correct information on family planning and its different options. Further, USAID helped Bohol Province ensure continuous supply of FP commodities through facilitation of delivery and redistribution.

USAPAN SESSION PARTICIPATION. A trained facilitator conducts an Usapan session to clients at the Brangay Dao Session Hall, Tagbilaran City. Observing the activity seated from left: Ms. Josiane Pepito- Bohol Province Family Planning Coordinator; Dr. Laurentiu Stan – Chief of Party of USAID’s ReachHealth Project; Dr. Jeia Pondoc – Tagbilaran City Health Officer; Mr. Jeff Goebel – Director of USAID Office of Economic Development and Governance (partly hidden); Tagbilaran City Mayor Jane Cajes-Yap; USAID Deputy Mission Director Rebekah Eubanks; and Dr. Yolanda Oliveros – Deputy Director of USAID Philippines Office of Health. (RTI International)