Member Associations

The Bahrain Family Planning Association (BRHA) was founded in 1975, the organization has played a critical role in promoting reproductive health. Bahrain and in achieving government support to adopt necessary policies on reproductive health (RH) including the incorporation of (RH) into the school curriculum. BRHA receives support from the ministries of health, social development, labour, and education, and it partners closely with the upper and lower government house (the parliament and the Shoura Council). BRHA operates a highly successful telephone hotline service which provides counseling and advise on reproductive health to callers from both Bahrain and neighboring countries. The very particular needs and the constraints in Bahrain mean the BRHA is highly focused on advocacy and is limited in its capacity to deliver direct education (RH) services. However, it does run strong information, education and communication (IEC) programs (targeted towards young people and women) and extensive education and literacy initiatives which are particularly designed to reach out to all community groups.  

In Botswana, HIV prevalence rates are among the highest in the world: over 33% of the total population is living with HIV and AIDS. There’s a severe shortage of skilled health personnel, and very limited resources in the national health system. Formed in 1988, the Botswana Family Welfare Association (BOFWA) is fighting hard to fill the gap, but the challenge is enormous. The organization’s programmes target young people, sex workers, orphans, people with hearing and speech problems, and internally displaced persons. It provides family planning, infertility management, maternity services, voluntary counselling and testing (VCT), antenatal care and the diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV and AIDS.   Most of BOFWA's clients are poor, marginalized, socially excluded and/or under-served. BOFWA uses a variety of different methods to reach poor and marginalized groups and communities, and works hard to develop acceptance of, and support for sexual and reproductive health services and programmes among community leaders, politicians and the police. BOFWA is proud of its achievements, but knows that there is an immense amount of work to be done. BOFWA aims to expand its services substantially in years to come. BOFWA works in close partnership with the National Council on Population and Development (NCPD, a government agency), with non-governmental organizations including Botswana Christian Aids Intervention (BOCAIT) and with private sector groups including the Botswana Confederation of Commerce, Barclays Bank of Botswana, and Barlow World. BOFWA also partners with the Botswana Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS, the Botswana National Youth Council and the Botswana Network of Ethics and Law for HIV and AIDS. Contacts Website: http://www.bofwa.org.bw/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Botswana-Family-Welfare-Association-275893025804336/