Public Health and Women’s Health
VACCINE HESITANCY
Due to high rates of vaccine hesitancy in the countries where we work, Project Kesher leaders are hosting educational workshops about the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines.
BREAST HEALTH
PK-trained leaders get information out into the community and confidently address taboos that might prevent women from seeking tests and treatment for sexual health issues, breast cancer, postpartum depression, and more. Working with women, health care professionals, NGOs, and academic institutions, these programs get women accurate information about reproductive health care, community resources for a wide range of health concerns, and access to tests and treatments. Groups provide support and community for women going through different health and mental health crises. The goal of PK advocacy programs in this area is to remove the taboos so deeply ingrained in Russian and Ukrainian society, around women’s bodies and health.
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
In 2021, the Project Kesher Russia team received a grant from the local government in Tula to support a new program focusing on young women’s reproductive health. As part of this initiative, Project Kesher is recruiting and training a team of 20 medical volunteers, who are conducting educational lectures on reproductive health at high schools, universities, and summer camps. These sessions are helping young women access accurate and up-to-date sexual and reproductive health information and gain insight about taking care of their physical and mental wellbeing.
MENTAL HEALTH
Due to the pandemic, an increasing number of people have reported symptoms of anxiety or depression, and Project Kesher leaders have made mental health a top priority. Recent initiatives have included sharing information about eating disorders in Ukraine, where there is still a strong stigma associated with mental health, providing emotional support for young mothers, and arranging for free mental health resources for survivors of domestic violence.
