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What is Marsa ? Marsa is the Arabic word for Anchor /Anchorage / Dockyard defined as a safe place where ships dock for supplies before going out at sea again. Why was Marsa created? Stigma (LGBTQ, single sexually active women) Discrimination (LGBTQ, single sexually active women)
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What is Marsa? • Marsa is the Arabic word for Anchor /Anchorage / Dockyard defined as a safe place where ships dock for supplies before going out at sea again.
Why was Marsa created? • Stigma (LGBTQ, single sexually active women) • Discrimination (LGBTQ, single sexually active women) • No access to SRHR
Marsa aims at: • Providing Sexual Health Services: • In a secure environment • Privately • Confidentially • Anonymously • At Subsidized prices.
Who can benefit from Marsa’s Services? • Anyone • Young people • Single women • Marginalized groups • People Living with HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STI)
Marsa’s Services • Free Testing for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C • Medical consultations for Sexually Transmitted Infections • PAP smear • Referral to laboratory testing for sexually transmitted infections
Counseling Services • Free psychological counseling for People Living With HIV • Free social counseling and follow up • Free dietetic counseling for people living with HIV
Other Services: • Marsa offers sexual heath and safer sex awareness sessions
Challenges: • Lack of awareness concerning sexual health • Public health • Mental health • Solution: • Provide sexual awareness especially among the youth.
Financial challenges: • Lack of funds • Solution: • Fundraising events • Donations online and at the center
Clients Access Challenge: • No increase in the number of women at Marsa • Solution: • Initiating the Reproductive Health for Women Program
Clients Access Challenge: • Limited resources and services for Transgender clients • Solution: • Initiating specialized Program for Transgender health (providing a transition guide [Medical & Legal/policy]; Oct 2014)
Achievements to Date: • Building trust among community • Increasing number of returning clients • Evidence by clients satisfaction survey • Over 4,000 services provided for 2,500 clients