Member Associations

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.

Väestöliitto (The Family Federation of Finland) is an umbrella organization for agencies working in the field of health and social affairs in relation to population and family policy issues. It offers free sex education services to young people through the Open House Youth Counselling Service which provides personal and telephone counselling on topics such as sexuality, contraception, and dating. It runs programmes in schools to highlight population and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) issues. Väestöliitto has a well-developed condom sales scheme via the Slot Machine Association. It is involved in scientific research into new contraceptive methods, it has 3 infertility clinics, and it maintains sperm and embryo banks. The Member Association operates a project called 'Full Life' which is aimed at adults over 40 years old and offers counselling on menopause, ageing and sexuality, and it also runs 2 family clinics which provide sexual therapy, and relationship therapy for individuals, couples and families. The organization collaborates closely with IPPF Member Associations in Estonia and Latvia to train teachers in sex education. Väestöliitto also advocates for increased international aid for family planning and sexual and reproductive health (SRH), and runs projects in Mexico, Vietnam and Malawi. Contacts Website: www.vaestoliitto.fi Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vaestoliitto Twitter: https://twitter.com/Vaestoliitto