Member Associations

SECS was founded in 1990 with the help of the IPPF (International Planned Parenthood Federation) to meet the needs of information, education and service provision in the fields of sexuality and family planning. Since then, the SECS has continued to militate for reproductive rights and reproductive health in Romania. Over the years, SECS has been an educator, opinion leader and pioneer in providing family planning services. Through its mobilization programmes, the organization has succeded in catalisying governamental organisations and non-governamental organisations from 11 urban communities to create sustainable partnerships (Local Coordination Groups) who have developed and implemented their own local plans for educating disadvantaged population through the local community resources. SECS promotes through its programmes the importance of local partnerships to being the key to identify the existing needs and the sustainable solutions for implementing them. SECS played a major role in the National Family Planning Program and supported the creation of a coherent network of supporters of reproductive health in Romania. Our organization holds the position of national leader in family planning programs, and for seven years has been a partner for Head of the Ministry of Health in initiation, implementation and monitoring of The National Family Planning Program in the health reform process. Through this program SECS has provided technical assistance for the Public Health Authorities of all the counties of the country and in collaboration with them has contributed to the medical continuum education process of 5,300 family doctors and 4,000 medical schools nurses in rural areas. Believing that that the population's access to information and education must be one continuous process, the SECS initiated Community mobilization and training programmes both in rural and urban areas, strategic and sustainable programmes.  Key areas of expertise: Providing technical assistance in initiation, implementation, monitoring and program evaluation, both at the national and international level, training of medical staff in family planning, financial management of medical offices. Adult education (communication,fundraising, growing the level of awareness on some community issues, volunteering, advocacy, respect for sexual and reproductive rights for humans with special needs). Training peer educators both for young people and for adults, community mobilization programs through developing multi-sectoral groups and optimal use of local resources. Logistic system development and implementation for monitoring the distribution of some products within public health programs, communication campaigns who are targeting behaviour change. Advocacy programs. Understanding the reproductive health needs of people living with learning disabilities.   

The Foundation for Research on Women’s Health, Productivity and the Environment (BAFROW) is a non-profit organization that complements the development efforts of the Government of The Gambia and other national partners through a holistic and integrated Social and Economic Empowerment Program geared towards improving the quality of life of the most vulnerable and marginalized people, especially women and girls, in targeted rural and urban communities. The overall goal of our program is to empower communities to take charge of their health and economic well-being, with emphasis on their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). BAFROW’s approach Our approach is holistic, multi-dimensional and multi-sectoral and based on the principle that sound health is closely linked with economic well-being, knowledge and skills, conducive physical and social environments, good personal and environmental hygiene, and the absence of all cultural practices that affect the health and well-being of women and girls, thereby bridging gaps and creating linkages between these issues. Projects BAFROW’s main projects are: 1) Health promotion and health service delivery 2) Combatting practices that are harmful to health including female genital mutilation/ cutting (FGM/C) 3) HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support 4) Obstetric fistula treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration, and 5) Women’s economic empowerment and the environment Service delivery Our hospital, BAFROW Medical Centre which is operated under our Health promotion and health service delivery project, is registered as a commercial entity. The service delivery points of our two functional health facilities are: Serrekunda, Kanifing Municipality for BAFROW Medical Centre; and Mandinaba Village, Brikama Local Government Area for BAFROW’s Well Woman and Family Clinic.  BAFROW provides clinical services under the following specialized areas: Family Medicine Internal Medicine Cardiology Infant and Child Welfare/ Paediatrics Obstetrics and Gynaecology Specifically on SRHR, BAFRWO provides: Maternity care and services Fertility treatment (for both men and women) Abortion-related services Contraceptives & emergency contraceptives Sexually transmitted disease screening and treatment HIV testing; referrals for HIV treatment Care services for rape including PEP Screening and treatment or referrals if necessary for other diseases of the reproductive system Obstetric fistula reparation surgery, and rehabilitation and reintegration services Information, education and counselling for all the above and on other SRH issues Email: [email protected]