International Women's Health Group To Hold First Fundraiser

PORTLAND, OR April 25, 2004--Women who live in war-torn regions of the world now get support from an organization who will travel to areas of the world such as Tibet, Afghanistan and Israel to provide women's healthcare services and trainings. Circle of Health International's mission is to support the empowerment of women living in conflict-affected situations around the globe by providing women's health initiatives. The group is hosting a fundraiser on May 3rd, 2004, 7:30pm at Ripe to raise money for their first project.We want to reach women who desperately need support, says Sera Bonds, Director, Women who have been forced to flee their homes, are living amidst terrible violence, and often with life-threatening health conditions deserve to have adequate, appropriate, and accessible health care. Our goal is to gently enter conflict-affected communities and work with community health workers and midwives to enhance their skill levels and improve their access to information. By doing so, we hope to support these brave women in transforming a horrific experience into something that empowers them, individually as well as collectively, as they heal themselves and their communities. Circle of Health International's first fieldwork project is scheduled for the summer of 2004 in Tibet. COHI is partnering with the Tibetan Poverty Alleviation Fund to assist them in completing several women's health projects presently underway. These projects focus on meeting the goals described in The Safe Motherhood Strategy and address issues such as lowering maternal and infant mortality rates by training health care providers to identify potential problems in delivery and referring women to clinics with supportive technology and medical staff. COHI is also researching potential partner organizations to offer HIV/AIDS education and prevention information within the commercial sex worker community in Lhasa, Tibet. Circle of Health International seeks to develop culturally specific and appropriate trainings to build upon the existing knowledge base of the community health workers and traditional midwives living in conflict-affected populations. By targeting these groups - and thus contributing to the skills development of the women directly affected by conflict " Circle of Health International hopes to support conflict-affected women in leading their communities into a post-conflict phase based on health and empowerment. Services Circle of Health International offer include: basic immunizations, nutritional information, family planning, hygiene support, HIV/AIDS trainings, public health information, post-abortion care, gender-based violence counseling, neonatal care, and delivery skills.Cost of dinner is $45/person - email to reserveTo request a reservation please contact Rhonda Robb atrhondarae@hotmail.comor by phone (503)282-0569. Or contact Ripe directly at:ripe@ripepdx.com.Ripe is: a small local company that to date is best know for its family style dinners called family supper, we are also well establishedcaterers, run a humble little coffee shop, and have just opened a darling little eatery called clarklewis in Portland's Southeast industrial district.