Member Associations

Located off the eastern coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean, Comoros is an archipelago of 4 islands at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel between northeaster Mozambique and northwestern Madagascar. At a little over 1,800 square kilometres, it’s the third smallest nation in Africa, but has over 700,000 inhabitants. It is one of the most densely populated countries on the continent. A third of the population are women of reproductive age and the absence of essential health services presents major risks to their health and survival. High fertility levels allied to low contraceptive uptake, and widespread poverty combine to drive high risks related to sexual and reproductive health (SRH). In response, the Association Comorienne pour le Bien-Être Famille (ASCOBEF) is delivering a comprehensive range of sexual and reproductive health programmes and services. These include family planning, gynaecological counselling and services, antenatal care, information, education and communication (IEC) programmes and behaviour change communications (BCC) activities to promote health-seeking behaviour. It is also playing a major advocacy role in the fight against gender-based violence, and has provided extensive victim support. The majority of ASCOBEF's clients are poor, marginalized, socially excluded and/or under-served. ASCOBEF deliver services and programmes supported by volunteers, Youth Action Movement members and peer educators. ASCOBEF works in partnership with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) including Réseau Femmes et Développement. It receives financial support from UNFPA, the Global Fund, UNICEF and the World Health Organization. Contacts Website: www.ascobef.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Association-Comorienne-Pour-Le-Bien-Etre-De-La-Familla-Ascobef-1514140762210292/

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