Aside from medical check-ups, YRS also emphasizes education (for patients and the broader community) to increase knowledge on health issues, with a view to positively influencing their attitudes and encouraging safer behavior. This is done through various forms of communication, information and education.
YRS holds monthly discussions open to the market community on general and reproductive health topics of interest. These are usually attended by between 25-50 people. Every two months YRS invites a resource person from outside the foundation as a guest speaker. Topics have included everything from reproductive issues to domestic violence.
In addition, small spontaneous discussions are held with groups of patients in the YRS waiting room by YRS counselors. Also, clients who come to the clinic are given information/brochures and offered the opportunity to meet with counselors.
Furthermore, YRS has an outreach program which involves staff working in shifts around the clock to cover all areas of the market vicinity, approaching people face-to-face to talk about health, to distribute informational brochures and condoms, and to refer them to the clinic.
To support and extend this outreach work, YRS has a pool of 10-15 active peer educators, motivated individuals from the market community, who help distribute information on YRS's services and programs, and condoms. Each month YRS holds support/training meetings for these peer educators.
To obtain a supply of condoms and pamphlets for distribution, YRS works in conjunction with DKT, Dance4Life, the Health Department and Yayasan Kerti Praja. Condoms are distributed free of charge.
The Educational and Pap smear components of YRS's activities have been supported by the World Population Foundation of the Netherlands, the Ford Foundation, Jakarta, and various other smaller donor groups and individuals.
This project is made possible through funding by:
