Member Associations

The Sudan Family Planning Association (SFPA) was established in 1965 by pioneers in obstetrics and gynaecology in response to increases in maternal, neonatal and infant mortality and morbidity. As the statistics show, Sudan is a country in great need of frontline sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. Advocacy, and undertaking information, education and communication (IEC) programmes are critical. SFPA is one of the leading organizations in Sudan providing a wide range of sexual and reproductive health services. A rights-based organisation, SFPA is part of the global movement of strong voices safeguarding SRHR issues. SFPA is pioneer in providing youth friendly services and educational reproductive health information for young people. A major priority for SFPA is improving the status of women and enhancing their understanding of their rights. The organization aligns SRH closely with development initiatives for women. Economic independence, or the capacity to make a significant contribution to a family’s income, empowers women, and with economic empowerment comes the potential for greater control over reproductive health and family planning. In Sudan (particularly in rural areas) harmful practices such as female genital mutilation are widespread. SFPA is vigorous in combating FGM. SFPA has played a key role in the design, testing and implementation of the HIV and AIDS Stigma Index, and has undertaken critical work in HIV prevention initiatives amongst at-risk groups. It’s a founder member of the Sudan AIDS Network (SAN). It’s highly active as a technical adviser to the government on population policy, and it advocates strenuously for financial and political support for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).    

The Reproductive and Family Health Association of Fiji (RFHAF) was inaugurated in June 1996. It has played a key role in shaping national family planning policy and in promoting sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education, particularly among young people and communities in which myths about the dangers of family planning prevail. The use of contraceptives is still believed by many to cause cancer and immature childbirth. RFHAF has also undertaken concerted national advocacy work (with a particular emphasis on HIV and AIDS) through its involvement with the National Advisory Committee on AIDS and the country co-ordinating mechanism. As such, it played a critical role in securing the HIV Prevention and Treatment Decree which outlaws discrimination, promotes counselling, testing and reporting, assures confidentiality, and legislates on the supply of blood products. The organization’s committed promotion of wider awareness of SRH issues is changing attitudes, and as attitudes change, uptake of services increase.