Member Associations

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

The Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka (FPASL) complements Sri Lanka’s government health services with 5,300 services points: 6 permanent facilities, 6 mobile units and thousands of community-based distributors/services (CBDs/CBSs). It focuses on reaching the most vulnerable groups in society. Clinics offer a comprehensive range of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. These include contraception, counselling, diagnostic services, HIV and STI screening and voluntary counselling and testing (VCT). FPA Sri Lanka works closely both with the Ministry of Health and decentralized government agencies. The government recognizes FPA Sri Lanka as one of the ‘mother’ non-governmental organizations (NGOS), working in SRH, nurturing smaller NGOs across the country. The Member Association promotes family planning as a basic human right. It addresses key SRH and relationship issues faced by young people via school and youth-centre based workshops and through the Happy Life Contact Centre. This centre provides information on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) to the general public through a range of new media tools). FPA Sri Lanka advocates to increase political commitment to reproductive health education (with political and religious leaders). It promotes female empowerment, it seeks to eradicate unsafe abortion and liberalise abortion laws, and it aims to foster community involvement in projects. Additionally, it runs regular training sessions for staff, volunteers and personnel from outside organizations working in the SRH field. FPA Sri Lanka has developed a highly successful contraceptive retail sales programme, backed by major media campaigns, supplying around 60% of the condoms and 90% of the oral contraceptives sold in Sri Lanka.   Contacts Website: www.fpasrilanka.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fpasrilanka Twitter: https://twitter.com/FPA_SriLanka