Member Associations

The Planned Parenthood Association of Sierra Leone (PPASL), established in 1959, works on a range of serious sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues to improve people's health and quality of life. A key focus is to improve access to maternal health care, to reduce the risk of maternal and infant death. PPASL accesses the community through 5 service points, 12 workplace outreach projects, and 3 youth centres, via a 40-strong permanent staff team, backed by nearly 300 volunteers, 9 community-based distributors (CBDs) and a Youth Action Movement membership of 150. There is a 90% prevalence of female genital mutilation (FGM) in the country, and finding ways to handle the attendant psychological and physical trauma is one of the organization’s major challenges. Much of PPASL’s work is directed towards behaviour change communication (BCC) among community leaders, police and army personnel and Muslim and Christian groups. Safe motherhood, family planning, and the sensitisation of young people to SRH concerns are also central to the direct services which PPASL provides.    The Member Association works in partnership with government health and development ministries and the Sierra Leone Armed Forces Hospitals. Non-governmental organization (NGO) partners include the Reproductive Health Service, CHASL, MSSL, National AIDS Secretariat/SHARP and the Marie Stopes Society. PPASL receives financial support from UNFPA, UNICEF, UNAIDS, the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS, Plan International, MOHS & RH UNIT, Marie Stopes Society, SL Red Cross Society and Action Aid.  Contacts Website: www.ppasl.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/454639337890032/

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