For more than five years, Dr. Mirela Rista has been working with Youth Center “PO” — the only clinical center in Tirana, Albania, that provides free services related to sexual and reproductive health, or SRH. It is a branch of the Albanian Center for Population and Development, or ACPD — a member association of the International Planned Parenthood Federation — and trains health personnel in reproductive health, post-delivery contraception, and safe abortion techniques.
As a gynecologist, Rista was used to working in Tirana’s maternity hospitals but realized her clinical experience could help provide lifesaving information, education, and services to women and adolescents from vulnerable communities. Through trainings, Rista has since developed knowledge around youth-friendly approaches, as well as tools to take new perspectives into account and ensure that services meet the needs, realities, and rights of the groups she serves.
“Working with vulnerable groups is an added value in [my] professional experience, especially when you see that your work and contribution have served to improve the health of [an] entire community,” she said.