Member Associations

When it was founded in 1999, the Family Planning Association of Malawi (FPAM) focused on providing family planning services. As the organization has evolved, it has both refined and expanded its operation. Today, FPAM targets young people primarily, and reaches out to under-served rural communities. As a result, it operates 64 service points, including 53 mobile sexual and reproductive health (SRH) facilities and 4 static clinics. Its community-based distributor/services (CBDs/CBSs) profile is also very strong with 65 additional delivery points. As ever with IPPF Member Associations, the mix of outlets and approaches is very much led by the particular demographic and geographic needs of the country. FPAM also provides youth-friendly SRH information, education and behaviour change communication materials to young people at 4 youth centres, and through schools. Peer educators use group discussions, theatre performances, publications and audio-visual materials produced by community reproductive health promoters to pass on the message about good SRH practice and access to resources. The distribution of contraceptives, pregnancy testing, the diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) for HIV are core to FPAM’s clinic activity. For its successful operation, the organization depends on a team of 46 full-time staff and over 600 volunteers. Over the years, FPAM has forged partnerships with health, family and youth departments in government, to advocate forward-thinking national SRH policies. It works with a variety of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) including the Malawi Girl Guides Association and Banja La Mtsogolo. Financing support comes from UNFPA, IPPF’s Japan Trust Fund, the Japanese Organization for International Cooperation in Family Planning (JOICFP), UNICEF, National AIDS Commission, GTZ, and Youth Incentives. FPAM also networks with other SRH-focused groups, particularly in the fields of HIV and AIDS and youth issues.

The Haiti Midwives Association was created in 2004 as a local organisation promoting the midwifery profession to reduce the maternal and infant mortality rate. They work in collaboration with other entities (such as the Ministry of Health, obstetricians, etc.) to provide and promote health and wellbeing throughout Haiti. To ensure greater visibility and recognition of the midwifery profession in Haiti, the AISFH has officially changed its name to ASFH.ASFH provides ongoing training to its members and offers preventive and treatment services in the field of sexual and reproductive health.ASFH promotes the following values:Midwifery is an essential pillar in the promotion of health and in the fight to reduce infant and maternal mortality and morbidity in Haiti.The care provided by midwives is based on respect for the well-being and dignity of the family.Midwifery provides a favourable environment for the continuity of maternal and neonatal care.Proximity to women, continuity of care, informed choice, choice of delivery site and community services are at the core of the high quality care midwives provide.Midwifery care must be accessible to all Haitian women, regardless of socio-economic status.It is important to highlight and promote the potential of midwifery to improve the well-being of women, families and society.