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 Reproductive Health Alliance Kyrgyzstan (RHAK) was set up in 2001, and its services now extend across all 7 regions of the Kyrgyz Republic (Osh, Jalal-Abad, Talas, Chui, Naryn, Batken, Issyk-Kul). From its inception, RHAK has enjoyed strong youth support and input into its organization, policy-making and delivery. As a result, its youth work is a distinctive strength. RHAK has developed information materials for adolescents which cover critical sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues such as contraception and the prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs, including HIV and AIDS). A significant contingent of national and international trainers have been involved in training health professionals and volunteers who’ve subsequently trained groups of all sorts in SRH. Particular interest groups include refugees and internal migrants, injecting drug users (IDUs), sex workers, children in care and homeless children. RHAK is an active member of collaborative, central Asian initiatives to address the particular SRH needs and challenges of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and repatriates. This work has included the publication and circulation of a substantial range of written materials, and the creation of 3 clinics located expressly to serve migrant communities. Contacts Website: http://www.rhak.kg/english/index.php Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rhakkg