Member Associations

One of IPPF’s central beliefs is that processes and approaches need to be adapted to meet the specific needs of a country. In Lesotho, a country with one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the world, LPPA is very active in finding new ways to address neglected needs. LPPA provides a comprehensive range of sexual and reproductive health including: family planning, the  management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs),  screening for cancers of the reproductive system, the distribution of contraceptives and emergency contraceptives, pregnancy testing, post-abortion care, voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) and the management of infections. Clients are referred to other centres for CD4 tests and ARV treatment.  LPPA reaches out to the communities it serves through 47 service points: 10 permanent clinics, 9 private providers, 30 associated agencies, 90 peer educators and 14 community-based distributors (CBDs). There are 54 permanent staff who are supported by over 200 volunteers. An estimated 75% of LPPA's clients are poor, marginalized, socially excluded and/or under-served. Target groups include cattle herders, prisoners, rural populations, factory workers, university students, police trainees and people living with HIV and AIDS.  LPPA targets out-of-school children, and disseminates SRH information through drama, puppetry, sports for life, and facilitated discussions. Other education programmes include health talks, workshops, performances and radio and TV shows. In advocacy, LPPA reaches out to teachers, religious leaders and government leaders to promote favourable approaches to, and legislation on, SRH.  LPPA has influential partnerships with government health and population departments, and it partners with major non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Donors include Irish Aid, UNDP, the Japan Trust Fund, and IPPF’s Korea Africa Fund. The Member Association has strong linkages with other organizations across the country, particularly in relation to HIV and AIDS. Website: www.lppa.org.ls  

Association HERA XXI was registered as a non-governmental organization (NGO) in 1997 and joined IPPF as an Associate Member in 2000. The organization has associated clinics across the country, focusing on some of the poorest regions (including Samtskhe-Javakheti and Adjara) where the need for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services is most acute.   The Member Association has a strong youth focus, running peer educator programmes, involving young people at a high level in the organization’s structure. Young people are encouraged to devise, develop, implement and deliver their own projects. The need for change in gender attitudes amongst men is substantial and male peer educators receive additional training in this area. HERA XXI runs a counselling centre on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV and AIDS, and it has undertaken a range of highly focused HIV and AIDS projects for migrant workers, particularly during the construction of the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline (running from the Caspian coast in Azerbaijan to the Mediterranean coast in Turkey). These projects involved intensive information, education and communication (IEC) activities with local medical professionals, local communities, sex workers and site workers.   HERA XXI fights against unsafe abortion. The Member Association trains health professionals coming from different regions in Georgia on safe abortion. Its intensive advocacy has resulted in a partnership with the Ministry of Health against unsafe abortion.   Contacts Website: www.hera-youth.ge/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AssociationHeraXXI