Promoting access to healthcare for pregnant girls and young mothers living on the streets

Location: Cairo

Situation:

Today, 60% of the urban population of Cairo lives in unhealthy conditions and,
according to UNICEF and the Egyptian NGO Hope Village Society, the number of
children living on the streets in Cairo varies between 15,000 and 20,000. Although the fact that these children are always moving around makes it difficult to have reliable data, one thing is sure: there are more and more of them.The sight of young mothers living on the streets with their babies is a recent and growing phenomenon in Cairo.
These teenage pregnancies are most often a consequence of life on the streets.
Particularly poorly regarded by the community, these girls wander about without any medical check-ups, increasing the risk of maternal and infant mortality.

Activities:

MdM supports the NGO Hope Village Society in running a reception and re-integration centre and a mobile unit caring for pregnant teenagers and adolescent mothers living on the streets. The programme organises and provides:
• psychological support for the girls coming to the pilot centre;
• a care network with the public hospitals enabling access to healthcare for pregnant girls and young mothers living on the streets;
• Information, Education and Communication (IEC) sessions on reproductive health, first aid, hygiene and nutrition for girls and boys attending the centre,
street children leaders, educators and care staff of Hope Village Society as well as for staff of other organisations working with street children;
• support to the network of Egyptian NGOs caring for street children.

Outlook:

Continuation of the project and support to other NGOs working with young girls living on the streets.

Project start date: August 2005

End date: December 2008