Member Associations

Associação Para o Planeamento da Família (APF) is a vibrant and dynamic Member Association which has played a key role in advancing the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) agenda in the country. It has 10 regional delegations operated by volunteer staff, and works closely with health and education professionals, and with professionals engaged in community intervention, particularly with reference to the SRH needs of young people. Information, education, training and advocacy are central to APF’s work. APF runs programmes in fields such as sexual orientation, early pregnancy and motherhood, teenage parenthood, abortion, contraception, male SRH, and the prevention and management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV and AIDS. The Member Association played a crucial role in a long campaign to legalize abortion in the country. A bill to allow abortions up until the 10thweek of pregnancy finally received parliamentary approval in 2007. APF manages a resource centre, which has an extensive library of information and publications on SRH. It operates a telephone helpline (Sexuality Online) which provides information, support, counselling and referral services for young people, and a second helpline dedicated to assisting individuals in need of advice over unwanted pregnancy. Over the years, the Member Association’s service delivery and advocacy work has made an invaluable contribution to improvements in SRH and maternal and child health and to contraceptive awareness, understanding and use. It has also helped to produce a significant reduction in numbers of teenage pregnancies.     Contacts Website: www.apf.pt Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/apfamilia  

The Planned Parenthood Association of Zambia (PPAZ) was created in 1972. Then, it was dedicated to the promotion of family planning services. Over the years, it has evolved into a major service provider and advocacy body, with significant input into government policy on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues. Services offered include family planning, voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) for HIV, the treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), antenatal and post-natal care, emergency contraceptive provision, laboratory tests, and screening. PPAZ refers clients on for additional services including prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT), antiretroviral treatment and home-based care. The organization operates 3 static clinics, 11 mobile units and 10 community-based services (CBSs). It has a full-time staff of 34, backed by 1,300 volunteers which include over 200 community-based distributors (CBDs) and 398 peer educators. In total, PPAZ runs 229 service points. PPAZ places a strong emphasis on HIV and AIDS prevention and treatment: as the statistics show, HIV prevalence rates are exceptionally high in Zambia. PPAZ has worked intensively on integrating gender and empowerment perspectives into HIV prevention. It has undertaken behaviour change communication projects directed at young people, both in and out of school settings, and it’s taken similar projects out to rural communities.  PPAZ partners extensively with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), particularly those involved in youth and HIV and AIDS work. It receives financial support from Care international, UNICEF, the Japanese Organisation for Cooperation in Family Planning (JOICEP), Forum RFSU and IPPF’s Japan Trust Fund.  Contacts Website: www.ppaz.org.zm Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/137992098191/