Guinea-Bissau is one tenth the size of its neighbour Guinea-Conakry, but its people suffer equally distressing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) problems. The Associação Guineense para o Bem Estar Familiar was established in 1993 to address the major issue in family planning: equipping couples to make active, informed choices about the number of children they would have, and when they would have them.
 
Since then, the Member Association’s work has expanded to embrace a full range of SRH concerns. It provides young people with information, education and communication (IEC) and behaviour change communication (BCC) around sexual and reproductive health; it works on the prevention, diagnosis and management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) includind HIV; it provides post-abortion care and support; it provides care for victims of gender-based violence (GBV); and it advocates strongly at government level for legislation to prevent GBV.

Associação Guineense para o Bem Estar Familiar achieved these results through a small but committed team that operate over hundred service points, including static clinics and community-based service points. Despite the relatively small size of the organization, it is growing rapidly with strong central support from IPPF, influential government partnerships, and backing from non-governmental organizations including UNFPA.

The Planned Parenthood Association of Zambia (PPAZ) was created in 1972. Then, it was dedicated to the promotion of family planning services. Over the years, it has evolved into a major service provider and advocacy body, with significant input into government policy on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues.

Services offered include family planning, voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) for HIV, the treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), antenatal and post-natal care, emergency contraceptive provision, laboratory tests, and screening. PPAZ refers clients on for additional services including prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT), antiretroviral treatment and home-based care.

The organization operates 3 static clinics, 11 mobile units and 10 community-based services (CBSs). It has a full-time staff of 34, backed by 1,300 volunteers which include over 200 community-based distributors (CBDs) and 398 peer educators. In total, PPAZ runs 229 service points.

PPAZ places a strong emphasis on HIV and AIDS prevention and treatment: as the statistics show, HIV prevalence rates are exceptionally high in Zambia. PPAZ has worked intensively on integrating gender and empowerment perspectives into HIV prevention. It has undertaken behaviour change communication projects directed at young people, both in and out of school settings, and it’s taken similar projects out to rural communities. 

PPAZ partners extensively with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), particularly those involved in youth and HIV and AIDS work. It receives financial support from Care international, UNICEF, the Japanese Organisation for Cooperation in Family Planning (JOICEP), Forum RFSU and IPPF’s Japan Trust Fund. 

Contacts

Website: www.ppaz.org.zm
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/137992098191/

The Association Togolaise pour le Bien-Etre Familial (ATBEF) was formed in 1975. ATBEF’s services include voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) for HIV and AIDS, antenatal and post-natal care, post-abortion care, pre-marital counselling, and infertility treatment.

ATBEF carries out its work through over one hundred service points, including permanent clinics, mobile units, associated centres, and community-based distributors/community-based services (CBDs/CBSs). 

The majority of all clients are poor, marginalized, socially excluded and/or under-served. Special emphasis is placed on reaching internally displaced persons, sex workers, street children and drug users.

ATBEF works closely with government ministries dedicated to contraceptive commodity supply, to the reduction of maternal and neonatal mortality, and to HIV testing. In its advocacy role, the Member Association was central to the legislature’s adoption of more favourable abortion laws. ATBEF works with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) including FORUMSIDA and FONGTO, and its donors include Plan Togo, the PMLS, UNICEF and the Global Fund. It has established and maintains strong links with organizations working in related SRH fields both nationally and across the Africa region.

Website: http://atbeftogo.org/

Chama cha Uzazi na Malezi Bora Tanzania (UMATI)

UMATI (Chama cha Uzazi na Malezi Bora Tanzania (UMATI) was established in 1959 and became a full IPPF Member Association in 1973. Since then, it has developed a comprehensive range of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services for the Tanzanian people.

UMATI operates 33 services points which include 13 permanent clinics and 19 community-based distributors/community-based services (CBDs/CBSs). UMATI’s services are maintained and delivered by 120 permanent staff, 120 peer educators and a youth action movement membership of 250. 

UMATI also runs an extensive programme of home-based care and support for people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA). Voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) is a central part of UMATI’s HIV and AIDS prevention and treatment work. The organization is also highly active in promoting screening services and providing infertility diagnosis and counselling.

UMATI collaborates closely with and/or receives funding from the Ministry of Health and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as Youth Incentives, AMREF, the Japanese Organization for International Cooperation in Family Planning (JOICFP), GTZ, SIDA, Youth Incentives and AMREF.

Website: www.umati.or.tz

For over 30 years, the Family Life Association of Eswatini (FLAE) has provided sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services to the people of Eswatini (formally Swaziland).

While family planning, antenatal, post-natal and post-abortion care form a key part of FLAE’s services, there’s a significant focus on HIV and AIDS programmes. Swaziland has some of the highest HIV and AIDS prevalence rates in the world. As a result, the prevention and management of HIV and AIDS, the provision of voluntary counselling and testing (VCT), and the prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) are central to FLAE’s work.

FLAE has 15 service points, including 4 permanent clinics and 12 mobile facilities, staffed by a permanent team of 40 backed by 230 volunteers, 180 Youth Action Movement members and 29 peer educators.

Young people are a particular target for HIV and SRH sensitization. One of FLAE’s youth centres has its own radio studio, where young people make their own programmes concerning SRH issues. These are then played during FLAE’s roadshows and by major radio stations for nationwide broadcast. This is one strand in an innovative approach to communication. FLAE peer educators also provide training to the country’s Business Coalition Against AIDS.

Health, youth, education, women’s and regional development ministries are key partners for FLAE, and it has links with a large number of non-governmental organizations, including the Swaziland National Youth Council, Swaziland Health and Population Education, Population Services International, the Swaziland National AIDS Programme and PACT. Private sector partnerships include the Business Coalition Against HIV/AIDS and SWANNEPHA (a national network of organizations for people living with HIV and AIDS). FLAE is a member of the SRH Steering committee, the Gender Consortium and the Male Circumcision Task Force.

Contacts

Website: www.flas.org.sz
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Family-Life-Association-of-Swaziland/139949066171476
Twitter: @FLAS79

The Planned Parenthood Association of Sierra Leone (PPASL), established in 1959, works on a range of serious sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues to improve people's health and quality of life. A key focus is to improve access to maternal health care, to reduce the risk of maternal and infant death.

PPASL accesses the community through 5 service points, 12 workplace outreach projects, and 3 youth centres, via a 40-strong permanent staff team, backed by nearly 300 volunteers, 9 community-based distributors (CBDs) and a Youth Action Movement membership of 150.

There is a 90% prevalence of female genital mutilation (FGM) in the country, and finding ways to handle the attendant psychological and physical trauma is one of the organization’s major challenges.

Much of PPASL’s work is directed towards behaviour change communication (BCC) among community leaders, police and army personnel and Muslim and Christian groups. Safe motherhood, family planning, and the sensitisation of young people to SRH concerns are also central to the direct services which PPASL provides.   

The Member Association works in partnership with government health and development ministries and the Sierra Leone Armed Forces Hospitals. Non-governmental organization (NGO) partners include the Reproductive Health Service, CHASL, MSSL, National AIDS Secretariat/SHARP and the Marie Stopes Society.

PPASL receives financial support from UNFPA, UNICEF, UNAIDS, the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS, Plan International, MOHS & RH UNIT, Marie Stopes Society, SL Red Cross Society and Action Aid. 

Contacts

Website: www.ppasl.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/454639337890032/

The people of Uganda face urgent sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues, with high prevalence of HIV and AIDS and unmet needs for contraception presenting some of the most immediate and life-threatening risks.

Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU), formerly the Family Planning Association of Uganda, was established in 1957. It now provides services in 29 of the country’s districts through 768 service points: 17 static clinics, 74 mobile facilities, 35 associated clinics and a network of hundreds of community-based distributors/community-based services (CBDs/CBSs). RHU's comprehensive range of services include family planning, the prevention and treatment of HIV and AIDS, the diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections and post-abortion care.

The work is led by a full-time staff of 19, supported by nearly 4,000 volunteers. These include 56 community-based distributors, 118 peer educators and a Youth Action Movement which has nearly 1,000 members.

An estimated 98% of RHU's clients are poor, marginalized, socially excluded and/or under-served. Target groups include internally displaced persons, young women in conflict-affected areas, sex workers, hawkers, saloonists, bicycle taxi operators and maids. 

RHU undertakes high level advocacy work. At present, advocating for policies and government action to end female genital mutilation (FGM) is one of its top priorities. 

RHU runs training schemes for other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and health professionals. RHU representatives sit on the government’s SRH advisory board and RHU has played a critical role in shaping, developing and implementing policies on gender, adolescent reproductive health, domestic relations, safe motherhood, and private partnerships for health.

RHU provides technical assistance to IPPF Member Associations (MAs) in Swaziland, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Namibia and Rwanda. RHU works with an immense range of NGOs and private sector organizations and it receives funding and support from over 20 different donors based locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.

The organization is a national convenor: bringin together a broad range of agencies in Uganda which are engaged in campaigning and delivering services to coordinate work and synthesize efforts within the country for maximum impact.

Contacts

Website: www.rhu.or.ug
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rhuganda
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RHUganda

As the statistics show, Nigeria faces considerable sexual and reproductive health (SRH) challenges. Established over 25 years ago, the Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN) is one of the country’s most experienced SRH organizations and nationally, it delivers around 10% of all family planning services. Its work extends to voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) in HIV and AIDS, antenatal and post-natal care, post-abortion care, infertility diagnosis and counselling, and education and counselling on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV and AIDS.

PPFN’s network of service delivery points is substantial: it has over 2,300 distinct service points. This includes 68 permanent clinics, 1,558 associated clinics and 27 community-based services (CBSs). The team consists of 110 permanent staff, over 750 volunteers and a Youth Action Movement membership of 350. Working together, they deliver a phenomenal number of sexual health services.

PPFN partners closely with the Nigerian government to deliver services and providing technical guidance on policy development and implementation. It works in collaboration with other non-governmental organizations (NGO) and with private sector companies including The Central Bank of Nigeria, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, Allied Products Plc and Nigeria Breweries. PPFN receives financial support from the UNDP, the Global HIV/AIDS Initiative, Pathfinder Nigeria, and IPPF’s Japan Trust Fund.

Contacts

Website: www.ppfn.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ppfnigeria/

Since 1996, the Association Nigérienne pour le Bien-Etre Familial's (ANBEF) have been providing a comprehensive range of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs and issues including the prevention and management of HIV and AIDS, antenatal and post-natal care, the provision of post-abortion care in clinics and health huts in rural areas, treatment of male and female infertility, and pre-marital counselling. Importantly, the Member Association also trains young people in income-generating activities.

ANBEF reaches out to rural and hard-to-reach communities, including street children, sex workers, vulnerable young people and rural populations.  Services are delivered by a team of permanent staff, hundreds of volunteers, peer educators and community-based distributors (CBDs).

Given that a very high proportion of 15-19 year olds give birth, and risks of maternal death and rates of child mortality are among the highest in the world, ANBEF fulfils a critical need in Niger that is not met by the private sector or government providers.

ANBEF’s expertise has been called upon by the Niger government’s Technical Committee for the development of the national IPCD+10 (International Conference on Population and Development) strategy. The Member Association works with non-governmental organizations including CARE International and FCI Partnerships, and it receives funding from UNFPA and Multisector Programmes (IDA/World Bank). ANBEF works closely with other specialist population, planning, youth, HIV and AIDS and sexually transmitted infection (STI) groups in Niger.

Set up in 1957, the Mauritius Family Planning & Welfare Association (MFPWA) was one of the earliest organizations in Africa focusing on family planning issues. As the nation struggled to find a way to address pressing population issues, a group of advocates formed MFPWA and started to provide services directly to women.

Today, the organization caters to the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of the whole community. It also has particular strands of activity relating to specific groups including sexually abused children, elderly people and marginalized populations on Rodrigues Island. 

Through 2 permanent facilities, and a private sector-supported daycare centre, MFPWA’s 15 staff and 550 volunteers deliver services including family planning, the prevention and management of HIV and AIDS through voluntary counselling and testing (VCT), support for people living with HIV/AIDS, infertility management, antenatal and post-natal care, post-abortion care, the diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and screening for cancers of the reproductive systems. The Member Association also operates peer-educator-led outreach programmes targeting hotels, export processing zones and popular tourist hot spots. 

MFPWA has played a critical role in promoting the integration of family life education into the national school curriculum and its powerful, informed advocacy has been influential in shaping government legislation on SRH, particularly in relation to HIV and AIDS. MFPWA partners with and advises government departments which address health, quality of life, women’s rights, child development, family welfare, social security and youth and sports.

MFPWA works with a large number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) including the Mauritius Council of Social Service, the Mauritius Alliance of Women, PILS (People living with AIDS), SOS Pauvrete, the National Women’s Council, the Senior Citizen Council and Link. Donors include the Indian Ocean Commission and UNFPA.

Website: http://mauritiusfamilyplanning.com