Youth-Friendly Reproductive Health Centre opens in Gurjaani

A Youth-Friendly Reproductive Health Medical Information Centre was opened in Gurjaani at the Gurjaani Policlinic-Ambulatory Union as part of the EU/UNFPA co-funded project “Reproductive Health Initiative For Youth in the South Caucasus” (RHIYC) on August 29.

According to project officials the Youth Reproductive Health (RH) Centre will provide young people with free counselling, contraceptives, affordable diagnostics and treatment and a wide range of information on reproductive health issues. The opening of such centres and the establishment of a network of them throughout Georgia is being undertaken to mark the 15th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), as impressive results, new priorities and expanded partnerships to support youth reproductive health and sustainable development have been achieved since that conference.

The RHIYC project aims to bring about sustainable improvements in reproductive health (RH) and the rights of youth, project officials say, adding that one of the major objectives of the project is to improve the access of young people to youth friendly reproductive health services. 16 Youth RH medical and information centres have been opened all over Georgia for this purpose.

After the opening of the new centre the NGO Tanadgoma provided training for local young people on issues related to sexual and reproductive health and rights. These peer educators will collaborate with the centre and share received information with other peers. The participants in the training course were awarded certificates.

“The opening of the Youth-Friendly Reproductive Health Medical Information Centre in Gurjaani is very important, as it will serve young people not only in Gurjaani but the whole Kakheti region. Today such centres are equipped according to international standards and function all over the Georgia. They collaborate intensively with young people and all stakeholders,” stated Tamar Khomasuridze, the Assistant Representative at the UNFPA Georgia Country Office.