Member Associations

The BFPA also known as the Barbados Family Planning Association is a benevolent organization created to protect, serve, and empower every Barbadian with their Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights embedded in a human and Sexual rights approach. The Association carries out its mission in the following ways clinical and medical service; education; national, community and individual intervention programs; strategic advocacy; intense research; provision of data; and most importantly protecting the most vulnerable and marginalised groups in society. It was established by an act of Parliament in 1954 and governed by an elected group of volunteers. The Association is an independent entity and governed by a constitution. The BFPA for transparency and accountability is governed by a Board of Ten (10) Elected Directors (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Public Relation Officer and Five Floor members which consist of two youth members). For further accountability and transparency, several government agencies have ex-officio representatives on the Board these are the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the Ministry of Youth Affairs, the Ministry of Education and Innovation, and the private sector. The diversity is further reflected through our Board and member with additional ex-officio e.g., LGBTQI Persons, Women’s groups, youth, and other partners. The Association is operationally managed by an Executive Director who is supported by highly technical, skilled, and qualified staff. Through a well-managed and sustainable revitalization process, the BFPA membership and board reflects the diversity that is in Barbados, with the following characteristics:  age, ethnicity, religious preference, disability, sexuality, and socio-economic diversity. The BFPA has one location which is a comprehensive clinical facility and community social service hub. With the reorganisation of the work of the BFPA under the societal impact and sustainability pillars of Medical and Clinical Services, Commodity Distribution, Sexual Rights Advocacy and Intervention Programming, Counselling and Mental Health Support, and lastly the protection of the freedom of all to have Sexual Pleasure in a safe, respectful, and private manner.  

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.