Ms. Nipaporn Intong¹, Ms. Vickie Nopachai², Sompong Srakaew², and Patcharin Somwadee². (1) Asia Regional Office, Planned Parenthood Federation of America - International (PPFA-I), 37, Petchburi Road, Soi 15, Bangkok, Thailand, 66-2-254-8954, nipaporn.intong@ppfa.org, (2) Raks Thai Foundation, 185-187 Phaholyothin Soi 11, Samsennai, Phayathai, Bangkok, Thailand

Health and human rights cannot be differentiated but need to be synthesized to gain access to local resources for disenfranchised individuals. “Reproductive Health Services for Burmese Migrant Workers” is an example of a program that has successfully applied community health approaches to increase access to basic health/reproductive health services, and legal services for the migrant Burmese population in Thailand under the human rights conceptual framework. In partnership, PPFA-International and Raks Thai Foundation developed and tested innovative strategies that provided comprehensive RH services, referrals to local hospitals, legal assistance and advocacy, and built the capacity of the Burmese migrants to bring the services to their own communities. The project is also an excellent example of using local support from the host government to ensure the provision of health services and legal protection for this population. The presentation will focus on strategies, achievements of the project from the last five years, 1999-2004, including lessons learnt and sustainability of the project.

Learning Objectives: Learning objectives

At the end of this session, participants will be able to
• Describe potential strategies for increasing access to health services and legal protection for the migrant population.
• Articulate the power of humanity and mutual co-habitation between the host communities and migrant communities.
• Recognize the importance of active partnership of government and non-governmental organizations in advocating for the health and legal services of the migrant population.

Keywords: Migrant Workers, Community Outreach

Related Web page: www.carethai.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Reproductive Health: Looking at the Issues

The 132nd Annual Meeting (November 6-10, 2004) of APHA