Table 1 RHG model summary

Staff

Management: 1 coordinator, 1 deputy coordinator, 1 youth coordinator.

Support: 4 supervisors, 1 data officer, 1 finance officer, 1 part-time expatriate advisor (GTZ).

Frontline: 36 nurse/midwives, 75 RHG facilitators, 14 youth/drama groups.

Staff training

Safe motherhood, FP, syndromic STI management, HIV prevention.

Organisational development

RHG management team was coached by GTZ in NGO internal governance issues, human resource management, project management, monitoring and evaluation, health information systems, survey design, implementation and evaluation.

Supplies

Contraceptives: oral, injectible, IUD, condoms, and spermicide supplied through health facilities.

STI drugs: antibiotics for refugees from UNHCR, supplied through health facilities.

Other: transport (2 pickups, 2 motorbikes), office and audio/visual equipment from GTZ.

Funding

Approximately USD 164,000 annually (1999).

Partners

GTZ (core funding, organisational development, technical assistance), ARC (training, funding some facilitators), UNHCR (refugee services coordination, reimbursement of Guinean health services for refugees), Guinean MoH (health facilities).

Activities

Health service based: Female refugee nurses and midwives, seconded to 28 Guinean health facilities used by refugees, provided services to refugees and Guineans.

Community based: RHG facilitators provided information, contraceptives (condoms, spermicide) and referral. Theatre groups and youth clubs provided information and entertainment.

Goal

RH professionals and motivated community volunteers enabled to plan, provide and evaluate sexual and reproductive health services for their fellow refugees.

Impact

Improved RH service provision in Forest Region, increased contraceptive usage and STI prevention and treatment, and became an important actor in the health sector (RHG represented 'best practice' and 'worthy of study' – WHO consultant [16]).