- Adolescents can encounter many obstacles when seeking sexual health services, so the non-governmental organization strives to overcome these obstacles to guarantee the rights of this population.
In 1986, the Civil Association for Family Planning (Plafam) was founded with the dream of guaranteeing the full exercise of sexual and reproductive rights in Venezuela. Its work began in the greater Caracas area and over the years has spread to the states of Miranda, Carabobo and Anzoátegui.
“This organization looks after the sexual rights and reproductive rights of all people, especially by raising awareness of the importance of knowing their sexual health and reproductive health. In a way, Plafam’s vision and mission is precisely to look after the sexual rights of all people and that is what the staff conveys during their consultations,” said Fabiola Galvis, a gynecologist at Plafam, in an interview with The Diary.
The specialist explained that the non-governmental organization (NGO) seeks to fulfill its mission by giving a message of tranquility, security and freedom to all its beneficiaries, but with special emphasis on adolescents and young people. In addition to providing medical care, the civil association also offers psychological care and general guidance for those who come to the consultations.
Galviz argued that there has always been a taboo in families and societies about talking about sexual health and seeking advice on sexuality and family planning at a health service. She indicated that in the case of women, it is common for adolescents or young women to go to a health service for the first time after becoming sexually active or when they have some health problem.
At Plafam, the doors are opened to a safe environment where the patient who comes feels comfortable, whether it is in gynecology, urology or another specialty, so what is done is an awareness approach to every patient who comes, especially adolescents, because they are a vulnerable population, as are women,” he added.
Plafam Headquarters
Altagracia: East 1st Avenue from the corner of Maturín and Jesuitas, house #14. Altagracia Parish – Center of Caracas.
Las Acacias: Victoria Avenue, Minerva Shopping Center, fifth. PLAFAM. urbanization. Las Acacias – Caracas.
Petare: colonial town of Petare, Madeleine street, Terramada house, Petare – Miranda.
Guarenas: Guarenas main avenue. CC Miranda, Central Tower, 2nd floor, urbanization. Menca Leoni.
Charallave: Bolivar Avenue, Tamanaco Tuy shopping center. Ground floor, local 109.
Valencia: urbanization Las Quintas, CC Paseo Las Granja, Mezzanine Level, premises Nro. MZ-2. municipality of Naguanagua.
Barcelona: intercommunal avenue Barcelona–Puerto La Cruz, Cristal Plaza Business Centre, ground floor, premises 1 and 2, Colinas del Neverí sector. 100 metres from the Lechería Junction.
The principle of orientation
The gynecologist explained that at Plafam there are counselors who are in charge of talking to all patients who come to their services for the first time. In these conversations they talk about sexual and reproductive rights, introduction to use of contraceptives and family planning.
“Then, when they see the specialist, they already have that insight and are calmer,” added Galviz.
The doctor stressed the importance of people knowing their sexual and reproductive rights and that they are different concepts, but they go hand in hand.
“Sexual rights are the rights that everyone has to live or decide to have a free sexual life, free from all types of violence and discrimination, while reproductive rights have to do with the right that everyone has to decide freely and responsibly the number of children they want to have, the time between pregnancies, and that each person decides when they want to have them or not,” she explained.
The expert indicated that this guidance work is not only carried out with patients and users of the service, but that the same initiative is also sought to be extended to communities, health personnel and educational institutions.
Talks are also given nationwide to health workers, including medical, nursing and psychology staff, who in some way promote family planning, thus contributing not only to patient education but also to raising awareness among health professionals,” she said.
Solidarity and accessibility
Galviz said that one of Plafam’s focuses is to make services accessible both economically and geographically. Although the civil association only has physical offices in four states, they have opted to hold free sessions in remote communities to guarantee the right to sexual health for these populations.
The gynecologist indicated that there are groups that, despite being in cities with more health services, sometimes cannot access them due to economic limitations, so at Plafam they try to maintain a price list that allows them to serve as many people as possible without affecting their operations.
“It is no secret that access to certain contraceptive methods from an economic point of view is a barrier for adolescents. Plafam has affordable costs and often offers sessions and programs to provide the appropriate contraceptive method to each patient, allowing them to evaluate and protect themselves,” she explained.
Discrimination on various grounds can also be a barrier to accessing sexual and reproductive health services, so Plafam staff have also been sensitized to work with and support people from the LGBTIQ+ community in this regard.
I have the opportunity to see transgender men in my practice. Somehow they always avoid going to gynecological consultations and we have achieved a favorable and positive impact. We have been doing evaluations or sessions on gynecological aspects for transgender patients for approximately three years and guiding them at the time of evaluations, patients who are on hormone therapy or who have never been to a gynecological consultation and we support them until they come regularly to their check-ups,” she said.
The specialist added that these patients are made aware of the checks they must undergo if they decide to use a long-term contraceptive method. Likewise, doctors try to provide constant support to these patients so that it becomes a self-care routine.
She explained that if the gynecologist accompanies the patient from the first menstruation until the menopausal transition, it allows that person to get to know themselves and what changes their body experiences at each stage of life.
“Educating the patient about the importance of going to a regular check-up without the need to have sexual relations or because of discomfort will allow him or her to get to know themselves and of course prevent the presence of diseases such as premalignant lesions of the cervix or breast tumors,” she said.
Plafam’s work is based on respect
Galviz pointed out that going to a sexual health service can cause discomfort, so the doctor must create a safe environment for the patient from the very beginning and that is achieved with respect.
I always explain to them that taking off their clothes and the gynecological position generates some discomfort, but when you create a safe environment, an environment where you explain absolutely everything you are going to do to the patient, that person will feel comfortable,” she clarified.
The gynecologist insisted on the need to promote sexual and reproductive health care from the moment the bodily changes associated with adolescence begin. She stressed that Plafam is a trustworthy space where young people can feel listened to and supported in these processes.
“The most important thing is that they will have a space where they will feel safe and where all the doubts they have will be clarified. I always tell my teenage patients that they can write down any doubts they have so that they can clarify them,” she said.
Galviz explained that many people begin to seek guidance on sexual health from their doctors. However, she believes that one of the objectives of initiatives such as Plafam is to make this information accessible to everyone and to involve the whole of society in training and prevention.
“We need to raise awareness in the general population that knowing your body is not a sin, that knowing about the sexual changes you may experience or your sexual preferences is not taboo in some way, but rather in some way nourishes your health, takes you on the best path, prevents diseases and health complications,” she said.
Galviz said that Venezuelan doctors are characterized by having great social sensitivity and commented that this sensitivity should be the priority when trying to guide a patient on issues of sexuality or reproduction. “It is a great blessing as a doctor to have the opportunity to dedicate your time to that patient who comes there with doubts, fear or pain and that you can support him.”
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2024-09-04 16:05:18
