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Special Initiatives and Programs |
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The Newlywed Initiative |
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 CHL recognizes that marriage is the foundation of family
life—the threshold of events and practices and that, within a
short period, will have life-long effects on family health.
These include decisions about having children, husband-wife
communication on health, how to manage pregnancy and delivery,
proper post-partum care, neonatal and infant care, and the
successful initiation of family planning and practice of
birth-spacing. The marriage event is the strategic entry point
for family health information addressing the above issues. CHL
has developed a series of integrated, intensive interventions
that comprise the Newlywed Initiative in response. |
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Post-Partum Care Initiative |
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CHL recognizes that the post-partum time period is crucial,
as it represents the intersection of many health issues that
will have life-long effects on the health of the mother, child,
and ultimately the whole family. It is a particularly critical
time to initiate family planning to avoid accidental pregnancy
and ensure proper birth spacing. Other critical health issues
during the post-partum period include proper breastfeeding and
nutrition for mother and child, timely immunizations, good
hygiene practices, and knowing the danger and emergency symptoms
for both mothers and infants. The 40-day period following
delivery therefore presents a prime opportunity for
communication interventions aimed at behavioral changes that
will set both the neonate and the mother on the path to good
health along with the whole family. CHL’s Post-partum Care
Initiative seizes this opportunity and comprises a series of
integrated, intensive interventions aimed at increasing
knowledge and proper behavior practices in the following areas:
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Initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of delivery
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Initiation of family planning
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Proper hygiene practices
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Proper nutrition for mother and child, including vitamin D
supplement
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Medical check-up for post-partum mother and infant
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Thyroid screening and first immunization for neonate
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Emergency and danger signs for post-partum mother and
infant
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Optimal birth spacing
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Enter-educate Productions |
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Al Afdal (The Best): CHL is collaborating with variety TV
show “Al Afdal” (The Best) with celebrity host Tarek Allam to
produce recurring segments with newlywed couples themed around
specific health messages in support of the family health
campaign with the slogan, “Sahatek…Sarwetek” (Your Health….Your
Wealth). Al Afdal is the first mass media TV variety show to be
used in CHL’s “Sahatek…Sarwetek” campaign. Much of each show is
filmed on location in heavily populated, working class
neighborhoods in both urban and rural areas, and Al Afdal is
especially popular with viewers who come from this kind of
background.
Aranib Si Al Sayed (Mr. Sayed’s Rabbits): CHL works with some of
the country’s most established playwrights to develop and
produce informative and entertaining theater plays for staging
in front of selected audiences. One of the most successful shows
has been the play Mr. Sayed’s Rabbits, by playwright Al Sayed Al
Abasery, which tackles themes related to family size, family
planning, preferences for male children, the hazards of frequent
pregnancies, early marriage, and the importance of education for
both males and females. The play was viewed by over 10,000 young
adults in villages and by young police recruits in security
barracks. |
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