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Latest stories from IPPF

Spotlight

A selection of stories from across the Federation

2024 trends
Story

What does the year 2024 hold for us?

As the new year begins, we take a look at the trends and challenges ahead for sexual and reproductive health and rights.

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enneth
story

| 07 August 2023

Vanuatu cyclone response: The mental health toll on humanitarian providers

Girls and women from nearby villages flock to mobile health clinics set up by the Vanuatu Family Health Association (VFHA). The response team from VFHA consists mostly of women, who have already been away from their families for over six weeks. Team Leader, Enneth Ilaisa, mentally prepares her team for the long day ahead.  The 12-member team, consisting of nine women and three men, have been conducting community outreach on Tanna Island, Vanuatu since 28 March 2023, as part of their humanitarian response to Tropical Cyclones Judy and Kevin, which tore through Vanuatu.   “Our team consists of nine mothers who have left their families to provide these essential services to vulnerable communities. When people visit us, we must put on a happy face to make them feel welcome but sometimes it gets hard,” says Ilaisa.  Ilaisa said that the women in the medical team have been away from their homes for so long that their husbands would sometimes be overwhelmed with looking after the children and often would call the women on the team ‘selfish’ for choosing to leave their families.  Sexual and reproductive health nurse, Cindy Mahi, said she sometimes feels bad for leaving her partner alone to look after the children. When she sees clients with their children, she says she feels homesick.  “I call my family every morning, and sometimes my husband complains about me being away – and it really hurts, especially if I hear my children in the background asking when I will be back. I feel so guilty sometimes as a mother!” says Mahi.  Ilaisa added that the stress from leaving their families is compounded by an intense working environment delivering vital sexual and reproductive healthcare to remote communities.  “Our work is such that we leave our accommodation before sunrise and return after sunset. People are very tired and sometimes we are so busy helping clients that we often work through lunch to ensure we help everyone,” says Ilaisa.  Mahi said that these are things people don’t see when they come to receive services.  “When women come to see us for help, we put on a warm smile, but they do not know about the hardships we face. They do not see what is running at the back of our mind.”   Ilaisa said when it comes to the mental health of the team, she ensures she is creating a safe space where her team members can openly share.  “I offer counselling to them, and I encourage them to share the important work that they do in the field with their husbands, so they know exactly what they do. I sit there and listen to them and sometimes we cry together.”  Ilaisa said that apart from counselling, she encourages the mothers to practice self-care by taking the weekend off and making sure they take adequate breaks throughout the day.  “I tell them, if you feel you need to take a break in the middle of work – do it! When we debrief after our field work, we share the numbers of women who received SRH services, and the feeling of accomplishment is what makes our work worthwhile. When we hear these numbers it reminds us of our purpose, it reminds us of why we are here, and for a second, our family problems fade away because we know we are serving a purpose greater than ourselves.” 

enneth
story

| 07 August 2023

Vanuatu cyclone response: The mental health toll on humanitarian providers

Girls and women from nearby villages flock to mobile health clinics set up by the Vanuatu Family Health Association (VFHA). The response team from VFHA consists mostly of women, who have already been away from their families for over six weeks. Team Leader, Enneth Ilaisa, mentally prepares her team for the long day ahead.  The 12-member team, consisting of nine women and three men, have been conducting community outreach on Tanna Island, Vanuatu since 28 March 2023, as part of their humanitarian response to Tropical Cyclones Judy and Kevin, which tore through Vanuatu.   “Our team consists of nine mothers who have left their families to provide these essential services to vulnerable communities. When people visit us, we must put on a happy face to make them feel welcome but sometimes it gets hard,” says Ilaisa.  Ilaisa said that the women in the medical team have been away from their homes for so long that their husbands would sometimes be overwhelmed with looking after the children and often would call the women on the team ‘selfish’ for choosing to leave their families.  Sexual and reproductive health nurse, Cindy Mahi, said she sometimes feels bad for leaving her partner alone to look after the children. When she sees clients with their children, she says she feels homesick.  “I call my family every morning, and sometimes my husband complains about me being away – and it really hurts, especially if I hear my children in the background asking when I will be back. I feel so guilty sometimes as a mother!” says Mahi.  Ilaisa added that the stress from leaving their families is compounded by an intense working environment delivering vital sexual and reproductive healthcare to remote communities.  “Our work is such that we leave our accommodation before sunrise and return after sunset. People are very tired and sometimes we are so busy helping clients that we often work through lunch to ensure we help everyone,” says Ilaisa.  Mahi said that these are things people don’t see when they come to receive services.  “When women come to see us for help, we put on a warm smile, but they do not know about the hardships we face. They do not see what is running at the back of our mind.”   Ilaisa said when it comes to the mental health of the team, she ensures she is creating a safe space where her team members can openly share.  “I offer counselling to them, and I encourage them to share the important work that they do in the field with their husbands, so they know exactly what they do. I sit there and listen to them and sometimes we cry together.”  Ilaisa said that apart from counselling, she encourages the mothers to practice self-care by taking the weekend off and making sure they take adequate breaks throughout the day.  “I tell them, if you feel you need to take a break in the middle of work – do it! When we debrief after our field work, we share the numbers of women who received SRH services, and the feeling of accomplishment is what makes our work worthwhile. When we hear these numbers it reminds us of our purpose, it reminds us of why we are here, and for a second, our family problems fade away because we know we are serving a purpose greater than ourselves.” 

talia-cifwa
story

| 28 June 2023

Trans & Proud: Being Transgender in the Cook Islands

It’s a scene like many others around the world: a loving family pour over childhood photos, giggling and reminiscing about the memories. This particular scene takes place amongst the swaying palm trees and soft breeze rolling over the island of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands, and the child they are cooing over – then named Nathanial – is now a beautiful transgender woman, Natalia.   Born in New Zealand to Cook Islanders parents, 36-year-old Natalia (Talia) Lajpold, says she has always known she was female. Talia grew up in Australia and began her transitioning process at the age of 15. In the last year of her schooling, Talia decided to wear the girl’s uniform to school but was met with disapproval from the school authorities.   “A lot of people think [being transgender] is a choice but if I had a choice, I would choose for things to be normal, the way I was born. Because it’s really hard. High school was hard,” Talia recalls.

talia-cifwa
story

| 28 June 2023

Trans & Proud: Being Transgender in the Cook Islands

It’s a scene like many others around the world: a loving family pour over childhood photos, giggling and reminiscing about the memories. This particular scene takes place amongst the swaying palm trees and soft breeze rolling over the island of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands, and the child they are cooing over – then named Nathanial – is now a beautiful transgender woman, Natalia.   Born in New Zealand to Cook Islanders parents, 36-year-old Natalia (Talia) Lajpold, says she has always known she was female. Talia grew up in Australia and began her transitioning process at the age of 15. In the last year of her schooling, Talia decided to wear the girl’s uniform to school but was met with disapproval from the school authorities.   “A lot of people think [being transgender] is a choice but if I had a choice, I would choose for things to be normal, the way I was born. Because it’s really hard. High school was hard,” Talia recalls.

cookislands-pride
story

| 17 April 2023

In Pictures: The activists who helped win LGBTI+ rights in the Cook Islands

The Cook Islands has removed a law that criminalizes homosexuality, in a huge victory for the local LGBTI+ community.  Our local Member Association, the Cook Islands Family Welfare Association (CIFWA), has been integral to the advocacy around this law reform, which has faced many hurdles since the movement kicked off in 2017. Staff and volunteers at CIFWA have worked in step with Pride Cook Islands and the Te Tiare Association (TTA), two of the biggest LGBTI+ advocacy organizations in the country, to end discrimination and promote human rights. Meet some of the inspiring people behind this historic movement.

cookislands-pride
story

| 17 April 2023

In Pictures: The activists who helped win LGBTI+ rights in the Cook Islands

The Cook Islands has removed a law that criminalizes homosexuality, in a huge victory for the local LGBTI+ community.  Our local Member Association, the Cook Islands Family Welfare Association (CIFWA), has been integral to the advocacy around this law reform, which has faced many hurdles since the movement kicked off in 2017. Staff and volunteers at CIFWA have worked in step with Pride Cook Islands and the Te Tiare Association (TTA), two of the biggest LGBTI+ advocacy organizations in the country, to end discrimination and promote human rights. Meet some of the inspiring people behind this historic movement.

dean-condom-car
story

| 13 February 2023

Dean and the Cook Islands Condom Car

On the island of Rarotonga, the main island of the Cook Islands in the South Pacific, a little white van makes its rounds on the palm-tree lined circular road. The van, run by the Cook Islands Family Welfare Association (CIFWA), stops off at condom distribution points along the way, refilling the condom stock.  Dean Tangata, a 26-year-old humanitarian focal point for CIFWA and a registered nurse, is behind the wheel.  "Our condom dispensers get emptied so quickly!” said Dean. “We refill them twice a week.”   On Rarotonga, the locals refer to a system called ‘coconut wireless’ - a local phrase meaning to communicate quickly by word-of-mouth. This means that discretion is key to encourage people to practise safe sex and use condoms.  According to the Cook Islands Ministry of Health 2014, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common in the Cook Islands. A study conducted in 2006 showed a 22% prevalence rate of chlamydia; 46% of these cases were in people between the ages of 15 and 29 years. After a robust intervention campaign, a repeat survey in 2012 showed a 50% decrease in prevalence. This is why CIFWA instigated a condom dispenser system, placing handmade dispensers (that an industrious staff member made from cutting holes in piping) inside bathrooms in restaurants around the island. “We’re the ‘sex people’ - the ‘sex workers’ who roll up in our condom car,” says Dean, smiling.

dean-condom-car
story

| 13 February 2023

Dean and the Cook Islands Condom Car

On the island of Rarotonga, the main island of the Cook Islands in the South Pacific, a little white van makes its rounds on the palm-tree lined circular road. The van, run by the Cook Islands Family Welfare Association (CIFWA), stops off at condom distribution points along the way, refilling the condom stock.  Dean Tangata, a 26-year-old humanitarian focal point for CIFWA and a registered nurse, is behind the wheel.  "Our condom dispensers get emptied so quickly!” said Dean. “We refill them twice a week.”   On Rarotonga, the locals refer to a system called ‘coconut wireless’ - a local phrase meaning to communicate quickly by word-of-mouth. This means that discretion is key to encourage people to practise safe sex and use condoms.  According to the Cook Islands Ministry of Health 2014, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common in the Cook Islands. A study conducted in 2006 showed a 22% prevalence rate of chlamydia; 46% of these cases were in people between the ages of 15 and 29 years. After a robust intervention campaign, a repeat survey in 2012 showed a 50% decrease in prevalence. This is why CIFWA instigated a condom dispenser system, placing handmade dispensers (that an industrious staff member made from cutting holes in piping) inside bathrooms in restaurants around the island. “We’re the ‘sex people’ - the ‘sex workers’ who roll up in our condom car,” says Dean, smiling.

albania cervical cancer
story

| 16 January 2023

Stories about our global efforts to eliminate cervical cancer

Contributing towards the elimination of cervical cancer is a core part of IPPF’s mandate. Through our 120 member associations around the world, we provide comprehensive cervical cancer prevention information and services to save lives, strengthen health equity, and fulfill the sexual and reproductive health and rights of all people. We adopted a Cervical Cancer Strategy 2020–2024 to ensure women, girls and other affected populations can access cervical cancer information and services.  Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women in the world. All countries are affected, particularly low- and middle- income countries. In 2018, 19 of the top 20 countries with the highest cervical cancer burden were in sub-Saharan Africa. The higher rates of cervical cancer incidence and mortality in these countries reflects the limited equitable access to high-quality information, vaccination, screening, treatment and cancer management. But as we’ve seen in countries from Nigeria to Bermuda, and Albania to Indonesia, there is evidence that we are on the right track to preventing, treating, and ultimately eliminating cervical cancer.  Here we highlight the incredible work of some of our regional member associations:

albania cervical cancer
story

| 24 January 2023

Stories about our global efforts to eliminate cervical cancer

Contributing towards the elimination of cervical cancer is a core part of IPPF’s mandate. Through our 120 member associations around the world, we provide comprehensive cervical cancer prevention information and services to save lives, strengthen health equity, and fulfill the sexual and reproductive health and rights of all people. We adopted a Cervical Cancer Strategy 2020–2024 to ensure women, girls and other affected populations can access cervical cancer information and services.  Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women in the world. All countries are affected, particularly low- and middle- income countries. In 2018, 19 of the top 20 countries with the highest cervical cancer burden were in sub-Saharan Africa. The higher rates of cervical cancer incidence and mortality in these countries reflects the limited equitable access to high-quality information, vaccination, screening, treatment and cancer management. But as we’ve seen in countries from Nigeria to Bermuda, and Albania to Indonesia, there is evidence that we are on the right track to preventing, treating, and ultimately eliminating cervical cancer.  Here we highlight the incredible work of some of our regional member associations:

community outreach workers
story

| 12 January 2023

In Afghanistan, midwives are the missing link amid critical healthcare shortages

Maryam was 13 years old when she was traded to her husband’s family in exchange for $2000. She was young and therefore worth a good price. “The younger you are, the better the price is!” she exclaimed. Incidents of child marriage and teenage pregnancies are fairly high in Afghanistan. With 28% of women being married before the age of 18 years, teenage pregnancies continue to persist in the country.  At the age of 15, Maryam was already seven months pregnant and could not sustain the pregnancy. Like many others, Maryam would have died giving birth if she didn’t have access to a midwife who came on time and taught her about the use of a safe-delivery kit (which consists of soap to wash hands and clean perineum, gloves to ensure hygiene and prevent germs, a plastic to provide clean delivery surface, a razor to cut the cord and a thread to tie the cord). As a result, she was able to deliver her premature baby with the help of a midwife. However, unlike Maryam, thousands of young girls die every day- mostly due to their young age and the lack of proper health infrastructure in Afghanistan. 

community outreach workers
story

| 12 January 2023

In Afghanistan, midwives are the missing link amid critical healthcare shortages

Maryam was 13 years old when she was traded to her husband’s family in exchange for $2000. She was young and therefore worth a good price. “The younger you are, the better the price is!” she exclaimed. Incidents of child marriage and teenage pregnancies are fairly high in Afghanistan. With 28% of women being married before the age of 18 years, teenage pregnancies continue to persist in the country.  At the age of 15, Maryam was already seven months pregnant and could not sustain the pregnancy. Like many others, Maryam would have died giving birth if she didn’t have access to a midwife who came on time and taught her about the use of a safe-delivery kit (which consists of soap to wash hands and clean perineum, gloves to ensure hygiene and prevent germs, a plastic to provide clean delivery surface, a razor to cut the cord and a thread to tie the cord). As a result, she was able to deliver her premature baby with the help of a midwife. However, unlike Maryam, thousands of young girls die every day- mostly due to their young age and the lack of proper health infrastructure in Afghanistan. 

enneth
story

| 07 August 2023

Vanuatu cyclone response: The mental health toll on humanitarian providers

Girls and women from nearby villages flock to mobile health clinics set up by the Vanuatu Family Health Association (VFHA). The response team from VFHA consists mostly of women, who have already been away from their families for over six weeks. Team Leader, Enneth Ilaisa, mentally prepares her team for the long day ahead.  The 12-member team, consisting of nine women and three men, have been conducting community outreach on Tanna Island, Vanuatu since 28 March 2023, as part of their humanitarian response to Tropical Cyclones Judy and Kevin, which tore through Vanuatu.   “Our team consists of nine mothers who have left their families to provide these essential services to vulnerable communities. When people visit us, we must put on a happy face to make them feel welcome but sometimes it gets hard,” says Ilaisa.  Ilaisa said that the women in the medical team have been away from their homes for so long that their husbands would sometimes be overwhelmed with looking after the children and often would call the women on the team ‘selfish’ for choosing to leave their families.  Sexual and reproductive health nurse, Cindy Mahi, said she sometimes feels bad for leaving her partner alone to look after the children. When she sees clients with their children, she says she feels homesick.  “I call my family every morning, and sometimes my husband complains about me being away – and it really hurts, especially if I hear my children in the background asking when I will be back. I feel so guilty sometimes as a mother!” says Mahi.  Ilaisa added that the stress from leaving their families is compounded by an intense working environment delivering vital sexual and reproductive healthcare to remote communities.  “Our work is such that we leave our accommodation before sunrise and return after sunset. People are very tired and sometimes we are so busy helping clients that we often work through lunch to ensure we help everyone,” says Ilaisa.  Mahi said that these are things people don’t see when they come to receive services.  “When women come to see us for help, we put on a warm smile, but they do not know about the hardships we face. They do not see what is running at the back of our mind.”   Ilaisa said when it comes to the mental health of the team, she ensures she is creating a safe space where her team members can openly share.  “I offer counselling to them, and I encourage them to share the important work that they do in the field with their husbands, so they know exactly what they do. I sit there and listen to them and sometimes we cry together.”  Ilaisa said that apart from counselling, she encourages the mothers to practice self-care by taking the weekend off and making sure they take adequate breaks throughout the day.  “I tell them, if you feel you need to take a break in the middle of work – do it! When we debrief after our field work, we share the numbers of women who received SRH services, and the feeling of accomplishment is what makes our work worthwhile. When we hear these numbers it reminds us of our purpose, it reminds us of why we are here, and for a second, our family problems fade away because we know we are serving a purpose greater than ourselves.” 

enneth
story

| 07 August 2023

Vanuatu cyclone response: The mental health toll on humanitarian providers

Girls and women from nearby villages flock to mobile health clinics set up by the Vanuatu Family Health Association (VFHA). The response team from VFHA consists mostly of women, who have already been away from their families for over six weeks. Team Leader, Enneth Ilaisa, mentally prepares her team for the long day ahead.  The 12-member team, consisting of nine women and three men, have been conducting community outreach on Tanna Island, Vanuatu since 28 March 2023, as part of their humanitarian response to Tropical Cyclones Judy and Kevin, which tore through Vanuatu.   “Our team consists of nine mothers who have left their families to provide these essential services to vulnerable communities. When people visit us, we must put on a happy face to make them feel welcome but sometimes it gets hard,” says Ilaisa.  Ilaisa said that the women in the medical team have been away from their homes for so long that their husbands would sometimes be overwhelmed with looking after the children and often would call the women on the team ‘selfish’ for choosing to leave their families.  Sexual and reproductive health nurse, Cindy Mahi, said she sometimes feels bad for leaving her partner alone to look after the children. When she sees clients with their children, she says she feels homesick.  “I call my family every morning, and sometimes my husband complains about me being away – and it really hurts, especially if I hear my children in the background asking when I will be back. I feel so guilty sometimes as a mother!” says Mahi.  Ilaisa added that the stress from leaving their families is compounded by an intense working environment delivering vital sexual and reproductive healthcare to remote communities.  “Our work is such that we leave our accommodation before sunrise and return after sunset. People are very tired and sometimes we are so busy helping clients that we often work through lunch to ensure we help everyone,” says Ilaisa.  Mahi said that these are things people don’t see when they come to receive services.  “When women come to see us for help, we put on a warm smile, but they do not know about the hardships we face. They do not see what is running at the back of our mind.”   Ilaisa said when it comes to the mental health of the team, she ensures she is creating a safe space where her team members can openly share.  “I offer counselling to them, and I encourage them to share the important work that they do in the field with their husbands, so they know exactly what they do. I sit there and listen to them and sometimes we cry together.”  Ilaisa said that apart from counselling, she encourages the mothers to practice self-care by taking the weekend off and making sure they take adequate breaks throughout the day.  “I tell them, if you feel you need to take a break in the middle of work – do it! When we debrief after our field work, we share the numbers of women who received SRH services, and the feeling of accomplishment is what makes our work worthwhile. When we hear these numbers it reminds us of our purpose, it reminds us of why we are here, and for a second, our family problems fade away because we know we are serving a purpose greater than ourselves.” 

talia-cifwa
story

| 28 June 2023

Trans & Proud: Being Transgender in the Cook Islands

It’s a scene like many others around the world: a loving family pour over childhood photos, giggling and reminiscing about the memories. This particular scene takes place amongst the swaying palm trees and soft breeze rolling over the island of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands, and the child they are cooing over – then named Nathanial – is now a beautiful transgender woman, Natalia.   Born in New Zealand to Cook Islanders parents, 36-year-old Natalia (Talia) Lajpold, says she has always known she was female. Talia grew up in Australia and began her transitioning process at the age of 15. In the last year of her schooling, Talia decided to wear the girl’s uniform to school but was met with disapproval from the school authorities.   “A lot of people think [being transgender] is a choice but if I had a choice, I would choose for things to be normal, the way I was born. Because it’s really hard. High school was hard,” Talia recalls.

talia-cifwa
story

| 28 June 2023

Trans & Proud: Being Transgender in the Cook Islands

It’s a scene like many others around the world: a loving family pour over childhood photos, giggling and reminiscing about the memories. This particular scene takes place amongst the swaying palm trees and soft breeze rolling over the island of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands, and the child they are cooing over – then named Nathanial – is now a beautiful transgender woman, Natalia.   Born in New Zealand to Cook Islanders parents, 36-year-old Natalia (Talia) Lajpold, says she has always known she was female. Talia grew up in Australia and began her transitioning process at the age of 15. In the last year of her schooling, Talia decided to wear the girl’s uniform to school but was met with disapproval from the school authorities.   “A lot of people think [being transgender] is a choice but if I had a choice, I would choose for things to be normal, the way I was born. Because it’s really hard. High school was hard,” Talia recalls.

cookislands-pride
story

| 17 April 2023

In Pictures: The activists who helped win LGBTI+ rights in the Cook Islands

The Cook Islands has removed a law that criminalizes homosexuality, in a huge victory for the local LGBTI+ community.  Our local Member Association, the Cook Islands Family Welfare Association (CIFWA), has been integral to the advocacy around this law reform, which has faced many hurdles since the movement kicked off in 2017. Staff and volunteers at CIFWA have worked in step with Pride Cook Islands and the Te Tiare Association (TTA), two of the biggest LGBTI+ advocacy organizations in the country, to end discrimination and promote human rights. Meet some of the inspiring people behind this historic movement.

cookislands-pride
story

| 17 April 2023

In Pictures: The activists who helped win LGBTI+ rights in the Cook Islands

The Cook Islands has removed a law that criminalizes homosexuality, in a huge victory for the local LGBTI+ community.  Our local Member Association, the Cook Islands Family Welfare Association (CIFWA), has been integral to the advocacy around this law reform, which has faced many hurdles since the movement kicked off in 2017. Staff and volunteers at CIFWA have worked in step with Pride Cook Islands and the Te Tiare Association (TTA), two of the biggest LGBTI+ advocacy organizations in the country, to end discrimination and promote human rights. Meet some of the inspiring people behind this historic movement.

dean-condom-car
story

| 13 February 2023

Dean and the Cook Islands Condom Car

On the island of Rarotonga, the main island of the Cook Islands in the South Pacific, a little white van makes its rounds on the palm-tree lined circular road. The van, run by the Cook Islands Family Welfare Association (CIFWA), stops off at condom distribution points along the way, refilling the condom stock.  Dean Tangata, a 26-year-old humanitarian focal point for CIFWA and a registered nurse, is behind the wheel.  "Our condom dispensers get emptied so quickly!” said Dean. “We refill them twice a week.”   On Rarotonga, the locals refer to a system called ‘coconut wireless’ - a local phrase meaning to communicate quickly by word-of-mouth. This means that discretion is key to encourage people to practise safe sex and use condoms.  According to the Cook Islands Ministry of Health 2014, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common in the Cook Islands. A study conducted in 2006 showed a 22% prevalence rate of chlamydia; 46% of these cases were in people between the ages of 15 and 29 years. After a robust intervention campaign, a repeat survey in 2012 showed a 50% decrease in prevalence. This is why CIFWA instigated a condom dispenser system, placing handmade dispensers (that an industrious staff member made from cutting holes in piping) inside bathrooms in restaurants around the island. “We’re the ‘sex people’ - the ‘sex workers’ who roll up in our condom car,” says Dean, smiling.

dean-condom-car
story

| 13 February 2023

Dean and the Cook Islands Condom Car

On the island of Rarotonga, the main island of the Cook Islands in the South Pacific, a little white van makes its rounds on the palm-tree lined circular road. The van, run by the Cook Islands Family Welfare Association (CIFWA), stops off at condom distribution points along the way, refilling the condom stock.  Dean Tangata, a 26-year-old humanitarian focal point for CIFWA and a registered nurse, is behind the wheel.  "Our condom dispensers get emptied so quickly!” said Dean. “We refill them twice a week.”   On Rarotonga, the locals refer to a system called ‘coconut wireless’ - a local phrase meaning to communicate quickly by word-of-mouth. This means that discretion is key to encourage people to practise safe sex and use condoms.  According to the Cook Islands Ministry of Health 2014, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common in the Cook Islands. A study conducted in 2006 showed a 22% prevalence rate of chlamydia; 46% of these cases were in people between the ages of 15 and 29 years. After a robust intervention campaign, a repeat survey in 2012 showed a 50% decrease in prevalence. This is why CIFWA instigated a condom dispenser system, placing handmade dispensers (that an industrious staff member made from cutting holes in piping) inside bathrooms in restaurants around the island. “We’re the ‘sex people’ - the ‘sex workers’ who roll up in our condom car,” says Dean, smiling.

albania cervical cancer
story

| 16 January 2023

Stories about our global efforts to eliminate cervical cancer

Contributing towards the elimination of cervical cancer is a core part of IPPF’s mandate. Through our 120 member associations around the world, we provide comprehensive cervical cancer prevention information and services to save lives, strengthen health equity, and fulfill the sexual and reproductive health and rights of all people. We adopted a Cervical Cancer Strategy 2020–2024 to ensure women, girls and other affected populations can access cervical cancer information and services.  Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women in the world. All countries are affected, particularly low- and middle- income countries. In 2018, 19 of the top 20 countries with the highest cervical cancer burden were in sub-Saharan Africa. The higher rates of cervical cancer incidence and mortality in these countries reflects the limited equitable access to high-quality information, vaccination, screening, treatment and cancer management. But as we’ve seen in countries from Nigeria to Bermuda, and Albania to Indonesia, there is evidence that we are on the right track to preventing, treating, and ultimately eliminating cervical cancer.  Here we highlight the incredible work of some of our regional member associations:

albania cervical cancer
story

| 24 January 2023

Stories about our global efforts to eliminate cervical cancer

Contributing towards the elimination of cervical cancer is a core part of IPPF’s mandate. Through our 120 member associations around the world, we provide comprehensive cervical cancer prevention information and services to save lives, strengthen health equity, and fulfill the sexual and reproductive health and rights of all people. We adopted a Cervical Cancer Strategy 2020–2024 to ensure women, girls and other affected populations can access cervical cancer information and services.  Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women in the world. All countries are affected, particularly low- and middle- income countries. In 2018, 19 of the top 20 countries with the highest cervical cancer burden were in sub-Saharan Africa. The higher rates of cervical cancer incidence and mortality in these countries reflects the limited equitable access to high-quality information, vaccination, screening, treatment and cancer management. But as we’ve seen in countries from Nigeria to Bermuda, and Albania to Indonesia, there is evidence that we are on the right track to preventing, treating, and ultimately eliminating cervical cancer.  Here we highlight the incredible work of some of our regional member associations:

community outreach workers
story

| 12 January 2023

In Afghanistan, midwives are the missing link amid critical healthcare shortages

Maryam was 13 years old when she was traded to her husband’s family in exchange for $2000. She was young and therefore worth a good price. “The younger you are, the better the price is!” she exclaimed. Incidents of child marriage and teenage pregnancies are fairly high in Afghanistan. With 28% of women being married before the age of 18 years, teenage pregnancies continue to persist in the country.  At the age of 15, Maryam was already seven months pregnant and could not sustain the pregnancy. Like many others, Maryam would have died giving birth if she didn’t have access to a midwife who came on time and taught her about the use of a safe-delivery kit (which consists of soap to wash hands and clean perineum, gloves to ensure hygiene and prevent germs, a plastic to provide clean delivery surface, a razor to cut the cord and a thread to tie the cord). As a result, she was able to deliver her premature baby with the help of a midwife. However, unlike Maryam, thousands of young girls die every day- mostly due to their young age and the lack of proper health infrastructure in Afghanistan. 

community outreach workers
story

| 12 January 2023

In Afghanistan, midwives are the missing link amid critical healthcare shortages

Maryam was 13 years old when she was traded to her husband’s family in exchange for $2000. She was young and therefore worth a good price. “The younger you are, the better the price is!” she exclaimed. Incidents of child marriage and teenage pregnancies are fairly high in Afghanistan. With 28% of women being married before the age of 18 years, teenage pregnancies continue to persist in the country.  At the age of 15, Maryam was already seven months pregnant and could not sustain the pregnancy. Like many others, Maryam would have died giving birth if she didn’t have access to a midwife who came on time and taught her about the use of a safe-delivery kit (which consists of soap to wash hands and clean perineum, gloves to ensure hygiene and prevent germs, a plastic to provide clean delivery surface, a razor to cut the cord and a thread to tie the cord). As a result, she was able to deliver her premature baby with the help of a midwife. However, unlike Maryam, thousands of young girls die every day- mostly due to their young age and the lack of proper health infrastructure in Afghanistan.