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.

New Zealand Family Planning (NZFP) runs 30 permanent clinics and 30 mobile facilities which offer a range of sexual and reproductive health services, including contraceptive advice and prescriptions, testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV, pregnancy testing and advice, and cervical screening. NZFP also runs schools-based clinics, predominantly in high needs areas, and its health promoters operate at 15 locations across the country. The health promoters work with schools, parents, and caregivers to lead courses on sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Some of this work extends into prisons and marae (Maori meeting places). Since sexuality education became compulsory in New Zealand secondary schools in 2001, NZFP has been closely involved in running courses, and in training staff to deliver effective SRH lessons. The organization plays a key role in advocating at national and international level for legislative change to promote the right to control SRH as a fundamental human right. It is a particularly active participant in the New Zealand Parliamentarians Group on Population and Development, where the organization’s expertise in delivering services to answer people’s SRH needs provides a practical grounding for policy improvements. Contacts Website: www.familyplanning.org.nz  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/familyplanningnz