Population II

PES covers the period 8/79-3/84 and is based on the attached special evaluations (PD-AAP-199, XD-AAP-497-A, XD-AAP-497-B, XD-AAP-497-C). Despite scarce Government of Panama (GOP) resources, a slow start due to delayed approval of the work and funding plans, and a further 15-month delay while the project amendment was modified, project progress has been generally satisfactory. Although the Ministry of Health (MOH) has integrated FP services within the maternal/child health care system and given FP a lower priority than expected, FP service delivery has been good. New female contraceptive users have increased by 30% in the past 4 years and condoms have been provided to 12,000 males; about 70% of contraceptive users utilize MOH or Institute of Social Security services. Contraceptive supplies have been arriving on schedule, although ineffective vehicle maintenance and fuel shortages have often prevented timely distribution. A contraceptive prevalence survey is planned for early 1984. The sex education component has produced and distributed a booklet on adolescent sexuality and trained health personnel and 210 secondary school guidance counselors; the latter, in turn, have trained about 2,000 teachers and offered sex education information to students. With the MOH"s failure to organize an IEC program or hire an IEC specialist (due to a GOP hiring freeze), this component has been the least successful and the most poorly implemented. However, word-of-mouth messages on the availability of FP services have proven to be an effective IEC tool. Action decions are to: develop a plan for completion of project activities; evaluate the possibility of a project extension; complete the National Contraceptive Prevalence Survey; and establish a policy dialogue with the MOH regarding contraceptive purchase following project termination.