Reproductive health (RH) is of critical importance for all people - but particularly for refugee women and others affected by conflict or disaster. With the sudden loss of her home, a displaced woman loses access to medical care, the protection of her community, and her entire support system. Her reproductive health is at risk.

Reproductive health care consists of the services that promote the well-being of women and communities by preventing and solving reproductive health problems.

ARC views reproductive health care as a necessity and a right. We take a community-based and participatory approach to all of our health programs and utilize rights-based knowledge as a foundation for supporting the programs.  Our approach ensures the high quality and sustainability of all our programs, especially reproductive health care.

View a "before & after" photo album of a reproductive health unit in Pakistan recently renovated by ARC.

ARC Provides RH Services In: Pakistan, Liberia, Sudan, Thailand, Darfur and Rwanda

Partners:

RHRC - ARC is one of seven members of the Reproductive Health Response in Conflict (RHRC) Consortium, a group of NGOs working towards improved reproductive health services for refugees and displaced persons around the world.

The members of RHRC work together to conduct research, assess needs in conflict settings, advocate for beneficial policies and increased funding for RH, and share expertise and lessons learned.

RAISE - ARC is one of the many partners of RAISE, a major initiative (developed by Columbia University and Marie Stopes Int'l) catalyzing change in how comprehensive reproductive health (RH) is addressed within relief organizations, field services and global decision making. The RAISE Initiative is a five year program which started July 1, 2006 and will continue through June 30, 2011.

With support from RAISE, ARC will be establishing comprehensive reproductive health clinical services in Darfur and South Sudan. The primary focus will be on establishing a comprehensive emergency obstetric unit with cesarean section and blood transfusion capabilities. Basic emergency obstetric clinics will also be established and referral systems strengthened.