

Tucked away on one of Warsaw's busiest streets, a discreet neon sign marks the entrance: Federa Health Center. Ringing the intercom grants access to this private clinic entirely dedicated to women's health. Inside, one might mistake it for a cozy café with its powder-colored walls and plush armchairs, if not for the abundance of informative brochures about HIV and emergency contraception. Condoms are prominently displayed on tables in the large first-floor room, reserved for sex education and self-defense workshops.
Its window overlooks the constant bustle of Swietokrzyska Street and the imposing Palace of Culture and Science, a "gift" from Joseph Stalin to communist Poland. Still, on the first floor, couches have been installed in rooms where psychiatrists and psychologists practice. Downstairs, two state-of-the-art gynecological offices serve both patients from the capital's business community and refugees from Chechnya and Ukraine. For the latter, as well as for people with disabilities or those receiving social assistance, consultations are free.
The place still smells new, and for good reason: This one-of-a-kind facility in Poland was inaugurated in September by the Polish Foundation for Women and Family Planning (Federa). It's the culmination of a long-planned project by the country's largest women's rights organization. "We wanted to create a place where women would be perfectly cared for without being judged, which is far from the case in public health facilities. To achieve this, we recruited several healthcare professionals who have been our partners for years," explained Kamila Ferenc, vice president of Federa.
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