Resources

IPPF took initiative to develop this discussion paper after advocates and programmes identified a pattern whereby sexuality was becoming marginalised within, or entirely excluded from, CSE programmes and advocacy efforts.  We believe that sexuality education programmes are worth investment and implementation because they empower, build self-esteem, competence and confidence and lead to better health and well-being for the individual young people they reach. This publication is complemented by  Putting Sexuality back into Comprehensive Sexuality Education: tips for delivering sex-positive workshops for young people. 

Uganda has one of the highest fertility rates in the world, and as a result, it also has one of the most youthful populations - more than half of Ugandans are under the age of 15. Approximately, 755,000 unintended pregnancies occur annually out of which 297,000 result in unsafe abortions. We are working hard on the ground to tackle these issues. Our Member takes the approach of offering people as many services as possible to get all health needs met in the same place. See a day in the life of the staff and clients of Gulu clinic, Uganda.

Share the cake and share our message to global leaders on the crucial importance of sexual health around the world.  Only twelve months ago, every government at the United Nations signed up to the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development and agreed to take unprecedented steps to achieve gender equality and ensure access to sexual and reproductive health.   The commitment is there but we now need to make sure that this translates into action on the ground, action at country level around the globe.

Translating the sexual rights of young people into practice not only involves raising awareness among young people for them to claim their rights, but working with duty bearers, such as health providers, educators and policy makers for them to fulfil these rights in law and in services. As adolescence is a time of gradually gaining responsibilities, implementing the rights of adolescents specifically involves a dynamic process of striking a balance between protecting them while respecting their autonomy and promoting their empowerment. With this in mind, IPPF and  the World Association for Sexual Health developed Fufil!. This guide addresses the critical opportunities to implement young people’s sexual rights in a global context and provides specific guidance for policy makers, health providers and educators.

On the ground in Nigeria, one of programme officers explains why outreach is so successful: “The project was a one-stop shop which brought services together. So a woman could have screening for breast and cervical cancer, counselling and have access to all methods of family planning at the same place. Also if a woman was detected with early stage of cervical cancer, we were able to carry out a curative operation."

Olusula, 40, is a Community Health Extension Worker in Nigeria. "I refer clients through vouchers to the facility of their choice for long acting and reversible contraceptive methods too", she says.

Monitoring and evaluation officer, Babatunde, is responsible for ensuring the supply of contraceptives for all the IPPF facilities in Nigeria, via an app. "I provided training on the mobile app for the store keepers at the facilities we worked with. All through the nine months of the Clusterplus Project, no facility ever ran out. This meant family planning methods were always available to those that needed them.”

Emiade Kudirat, 24, is a Community Health Extension Worker doing outreach in Nigeria. She specializes in the Sayana Press - a three-month, progestin-only injectable contraceptive favoured for its convenience in administration and portability. One patient, 24-year-old Bukola Polpoola, says she is happy that her treatment was free and easy.

Shodunke Mary, 53, has been a midwife from the Local Government Area Council for seven years in Nigeria. Now she is working with PPFN providing family planning counselling and a range of integrated sexual and reproductive health services. In addition, Mary also conducts on the job training to other facilities which are providing services for the PPFN model. "The model used by PPFN is successful because the services we provide are free, the providers are motivated and the community leaders are also involved in the implementation. Also, the commodities and equipment are always available."

"As a child I loved the medical profession so much. The uniforms of the health workers always caught my eyes. And I knew one day, I would be wearing one of those uniforms serving my community.”   Latifat Balogun explains how her childhood experiences led her to decide to train and work as a Community Health Extension Worker in Nigeria. She has been with PPFN for 20 years.