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.

The Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) was founded in 1969 in response to the appalling health and social circumstances in which many families in Ireland lived. Unmet need for contraception and high fertility resulted in high maternal mortality and morbidity, and poor child survival. Since then the organization has been a pioneering force in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in Ireland. Over the years the IFPA has been an educator, a researcher, an opinion former and a service provider. It established the first family planning clinics and pregnancy counselling centres in Ireland. It publishes a comprehensive range of information booklets on contraception. It helped to establish sex education programmes in schools, and it has fought for comprehensive medical and social services for women with crisis pregnancies. The organization provides specialist training in family planning for doctors, nurses, community groups and parents. The IPFA has 2 clinics in Dublin and has 12 pregnancy counselling centres nationwide. The IFPA has clear strategies in relation to abortion and access rights, the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of adolescents and young people, and the reduction of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV.   Contacts Website: www.ifpa.ie Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/irishfamilyplanningassociation Twitter https://twitter.com/IrishFPA