Member Associations

The Latvian Association for Family Planning & Sexual Health (LAFPSH) focuses on information, education and training activities for health personnel and the general public, and sex education for teachers and young people. The organization has a highly active youth group which runs a safer sex campaign (in conjunction with national media). The group also publishes an advice section in a major youth magazine dealing with problems relating to (for example) puberty, relationships, contraceptives and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). It operates a telephone helpline which is run by young people, for young people. More broadly, LAFPSH runs seminars and workshops on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) concerns such as sexuality and people with disability, gender-based violence and menopause. LAFPSH has significant influence as an advocate at government level, and has been closely involved in developing the national reproductive health programme. This is reflected in the organization’s active programme of information, education and communication (IEC) in conjunction with the Latvian Teachers Association. It has led to the training of over a 1,000 teachers in sex education. A project jointly supported by the Swedish Family Planning Association and the European Commission has enabled LAFPSH to produce and disseminate high quality materials on STIs, condoms and sex education.   Contacts Website: www.papardeszieds.lv Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/papardeszieds Twitter: https://twitter.com/PapardesZieds  

In Botswana, HIV prevalence rates are among the highest in the world: over 33% of the total population is living with HIV and AIDS. There’s a severe shortage of skilled health personnel, and very limited resources in the national health system. Formed in 1988, the Botswana Family Welfare Association (BOFWA) is fighting hard to fill the gap, but the challenge is enormous. The organization’s programmes target young people, sex workers, orphans, people with hearing and speech problems, and internally displaced persons. It provides family planning, infertility management, maternity services, voluntary counselling and testing (VCT), antenatal care and the diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV and AIDS.   Most of BOFWA's clients are poor, marginalized, socially excluded and/or under-served. BOFWA uses a variety of different methods to reach poor and marginalized groups and communities, and works hard to develop acceptance of, and support for sexual and reproductive health services and programmes among community leaders, politicians and the police. BOFWA is proud of its achievements, but knows that there is an immense amount of work to be done. BOFWA aims to expand its services substantially in years to come. BOFWA works in close partnership with the National Council on Population and Development (NCPD, a government agency), with non-governmental organizations including Botswana Christian Aids Intervention (BOCAIT) and with private sector groups including the Botswana Confederation of Commerce, Barclays Bank of Botswana, and Barlow World. BOFWA also partners with the Botswana Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS, the Botswana National Youth Council and the Botswana Network of Ethics and Law for HIV and AIDS. Contacts Website: http://www.bofwa.org.bw/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Botswana-Family-Welfare-Association-275893025804336/