The Azerbaijan Reproductive Health & Family Planning (RH/FP) Project funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by EngenderHealth in collaboration with the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Azerbaijan Medical University (AMU) and the Post-Graduate Training Institute hosted a presentation on the “Reproductive Health and Family Planning” manual on September 13, 2010.

This manual is the result of collaboration between Azerbaijani and international specialists in the health field to produce evidence-based teaching materials designed to improve the knowledge and skills of students on family planning topics including modern contraceptive methods, infection prevention and gender issues. Its publication marks a significant step forward to strengthen the teaching of family planning to future health professionals at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The manual also marks a critical step forward in institutionalizing state-of-the-art training on family planning and reproductive health, which will improve the quality and use of health care in Azerbaijan.

“Improving the availability of materials for instruction on family planning is key to ensuring efforts to address this important health topic are sustained,” said Adam Sterling, Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Azerbaijan.

Representatives from institutions working in the field of reproductive health and family planning attended the presentation including: Mr. Ahliman Amiraslanov, Rector of Azerbaijan Medical University; Sanan Karimov, Rector of Postgraduate Training Institute; Hijran Huseynova, Chief of the State Committee on Family, Women and Children’s Issues; as well as representatives from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Youth and Sport.

During the presentation, national experts on reproductive health discussed further plans to strengthen the reproductive health and family planning teaching program for the professional formation of  new health providers.