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 Kazakhstan Association for Sex and Reproductive Health (KMPA) was established in 1997, in close collaboration with other IPPF Member Associations in central Asia, including those in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The organization currently has 13 branches and 2 regional offices, in Kostanay and Astana. KMPA’s outlets are all fully equipped to deliver contraceptive advice and services and antenatal and post-natal care. The organization trains trainers in sexual and reproductive health (SRH) teaching, education and awareness raising, covering the full range of SRH concerns including unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) (including HIV and AIDS), contraception and abortion. KMPA is particularly focused on the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and other migrants, and the prevalence of trafficking women and children. KMPA was a major contributor to the International Organization of Migration’s (IOM’s) national information campaign to prevent trafficking. This  campaign seeks to raise awareness of the risks associated with the trade. Both with regard to SRHR and trafficking, KMPA has organized information campaigns involving the publication and dissemination of handouts, press releases and articles, the creation and management of an SRH hotline, and the provision of training courses for non-governmental organizations and government officials.