Cooperative agreement no. 522-0369.1 between AID and the Honduran Family Planning Association to increase accessibility and availability of family planning services in Honduras

The SP will also support information, education, and communication (IEC); training; and cost recovery activities. ASHONPLAFA"s community services program (CSP) will establish 310 new contraceptive distribution points and increase sales at 1,450 existing points. The range of CSP products will also be expanded, to include rehydration salts and additional contraceptives. Training will be provided to distributors, promoters, and supervisors, including refresher training for already existing promoters. For the social marketing program (SMP), ASHONPLAFA will hire a commercial wholesale drug distributor to distribute contraceptives (obtained from A.I.D. and International Planned Parenthood Federation) throughout the SMP network; this network includes 2,000 sales outlets (mostly in urban areas) and will now include 1,450 CSP distribution points. Pharmacists and CSP promoters will receive SMP training. ASHONPLAFA will consider adding new contraceptives to the SMP, especially progestin-only oral contraceptives for lactating and older women. The SMP will contract for advertising services. The medical/clinical program (MCP) will provide physician services 4 hours per day at 6 family planning (FP) centers (Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, Choluteca, Santa Rosa del Copan, La Ceiba, and Juticalpa). Temporary and permanent FP methods will be offered (including SP funding for 2,500-3,000 sterilizations a year at private clinics in unserved areas). A men"s clinic offering vasectomies during afternoon hours (when the clinics are currently unused) will be tested in Tegucigalpa. Training will be provided to promoters, clinic personnel, and at least one natural FP teacher per clinic, and ASHONPLAFA staff will be trained to promote breastfeeding. An multimedia IEC campaign will be conducted to promote ASHONPLAFA"s services. Radio will be the principal medium, and will include ads, talk shows, and a "Dear Abby" type of program. The IEC unit will also train staff of other PVO"s and private groups, who will provide referrals (and perhaps services) under the SP. Unified price structures will be designed for the CSP and SMP, with 50% and 100% cost recovery targeted, respectively. The MCP will improve cost recovery via a sliding fee scale. To monitor and evaluate the SP, ASHONPLAFA will establish a management information system, conduct operations research, and undertake national surveys. To improve management, ASHONPLAFA will continue to regionalize and delegate authority.