Travel Diary 2003 From Albania

Tuesday, March 18, 2003-11:48 pm

We were at the Albanian Family Planning Association (AFPA) headquarters all morning meeting with administration and staff learning about their programs. We spent the afternoon visiting one of their youth centers (which offers recreational activities, reproductive health education, psychosocial counseling, condoms and emergency contraception) as well as one of their women's centers (which offers psychosocial counseling, family planning, pap smears and colposcopy services). We concluded the day by meeting the President of the Independent Forum for the Albanian Woman. She provided a historical overview of Albanian women's status through changing government structures.

Pictures taken inside PO Youth Center.  Pictured above from left to right are: Rea Drita, Center Coordinator; Belisar Hoxholle, high school student and volunteer; Chira Musollari, college student and volunteer; Arjola Brusta, medical student and volunteer; and Blerta Petrela, Program Coordinator

                                 Free use of the computers and the internet is a hook to attract the youth to the center.

Wednesday, March 19, 2003-11:52 pm

Our 10 1/2 hour day began with a visit to one of the AFPA’s women's centers (which offers psychosocial and legal counseling, family planning, pap smears and colposcopy services). The center is located in Vlore, which is on the southern coast. The journey to Vlore, which is approximately 2 hours, took us through rural areas, small villages and other cities. We also met the Mayor of Vlore, who not only is supportive of the AFPA but is an OB/GYN. We returned to Tirana and met the head of the State Committee on Equal Opportunities who works extensively on gender equity issues.  

Viewing  Vlore with Director of Vlore Women's Center; Mayor of Vlore (who is also an Ob/Gyn) and AFPA Executive Director. 

Thursday, March 20, 2003-11:58 pm
We started the day at the AFPA administrative office reviewing additional organization policies and documents. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) officer then came to the office and provided an overview of USAID's reproductive health efforts in the country. We also discussed funding shifts and implications of the Global Gag Rule (the law, also known as the Mexico City Policy, states that international family planning agencies that receive U.S. funds may not provide abortion services, including counseling or referrals, or lobby to make or keep abortion safe and legal in their country, even with their own non U.S. funds).  In the afternoon, we met with two representatives from the International Organization for Migration who provided information about the horrific situation of human trafficking in Albania (see map below for human trafficking routes through Albania). The final meeting of the day was with the Vice Minister of Health who discussed the country's strategic health plan and how reproductive health is incorporated.

Friday, March 21, 2003-10:02 pm

Our journey has come to a conclusion with a phenomenal last day. We met with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Representative based here in Albania. She provided a history of UNFPA funding in this region and discussed how future funding looks "grim". We also met with staff members from the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare who discussed various social service programs for Albanian women. The day concluded with a meeting of the AFPA Board where we agreed on major areas of study exchange.

AFPA Board Meeting