Healthier Futures: Improving the Health of Aboriginal and Rural Women in Formosa Province (Argentina)

In spite of recent efforts to reduce inequalities in access to health resources, exclusion of rural and aboriginal populations from adequate health and social services remains a major problem in Argentina. The Federal and Provincial governments of Argentina are increasingly concerned with addressing this situation and promoting equitable access to services in excluded populations.

Special concern goes to the Province of Formosa, one of the poorest of Argentina, with one in three Formosans now living in poverty as a partial result of the current economic crisis. Poverty is especially acute among its indigenous and rural people who, tend to inhabit remote villages dispersed throughout the Province's large geographic area. Women and children are particularly vulnerable: child and maternal mortality rates are considerably higher in Formosa than in the rest of the country.

The Healthier Futures Project, initiated in December 2002, aims to support the Ministry of Human Development of Formosa and the Ministry of Health of Argentina in responding effectively to the health needs of rural and aboriginal women in Formosa. In order to accomplish this purpose, three strategies will be employed:

1. Building government capacity in health planning, program development and service delivery;
2. Supporting community participation; and,
3. Disseminating project initiatives and learnings across organisations, communities, and provinces in Argentina to ensure project sustainability.

This three-year project is funded by the Canadian International Development Agency, through the Canada-Southern Cone Technology Transfer Fund. This Fund supports the transfer of Canadian technology, which means the sharing of specific Canadian approaches or models with strong and solid partner organisations in the Southern Cone.

The Healthier Futures Project will transfer Canadian models and expertise in women’s and aboriginal health to senior public health staff, health workers, and community representatives in Formosa. Project activities will involve training, study tours and technical visits to Canadian and Argentinean sites, and the procurement, translation and adaptation of relevant Canadian documents.

CPHA is the lead Canadian partner for the project. The Association will draw upon its membership of public health practitioners across Canada to identify the most appropriate expertise and visiting sites for the technical exchanges. In Argentina, the project has two main partners, the Ministry of Human Development of Formosa and the Ministry of Health of Argentina. Other local institutions, such as the Institute for Aboriginal Communities Institute and the Ministry of Education, are also involved in the project.