Member Associations

One of IPPF’s central beliefs is that processes and approaches need to be adapted to meet the specific needs of a country. In Lesotho, a country with one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the world, LPPA is very active in finding new ways to address neglected needs. LPPA provides a comprehensive range of sexual and reproductive health including: family planning, the  management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs),  screening for cancers of the reproductive system, the distribution of contraceptives and emergency contraceptives, pregnancy testing, post-abortion care, voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) and the management of infections. Clients are referred to other centres for CD4 tests and ARV treatment.  LPPA reaches out to the communities it serves through 47 service points: 10 permanent clinics, 9 private providers, 30 associated agencies, 90 peer educators and 14 community-based distributors (CBDs). There are 54 permanent staff who are supported by over 200 volunteers. An estimated 75% of LPPA's clients are poor, marginalized, socially excluded and/or under-served. Target groups include cattle herders, prisoners, rural populations, factory workers, university students, police trainees and people living with HIV and AIDS.  LPPA targets out-of-school children, and disseminates SRH information through drama, puppetry, sports for life, and facilitated discussions. Other education programmes include health talks, workshops, performances and radio and TV shows. In advocacy, LPPA reaches out to teachers, religious leaders and government leaders to promote favourable approaches to, and legislation on, SRH.  LPPA has influential partnerships with government health and population departments, and it partners with major non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Donors include Irish Aid, UNDP, the Japan Trust Fund, and IPPF’s Korea Africa Fund. The Member Association has strong linkages with other organizations across the country, particularly in relation to HIV and AIDS. Website: www.lppa.org.ls  

Set up in 1957, the Mauritius Family Planning & Welfare Association (MFPWA) was one of the earliest organizations in Africa focusing on family planning issues. As the nation struggled to find a way to address pressing population issues, a group of advocates formed MFPWA and started to provide services directly to women. Today, the organization caters to the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of the whole community. It also has particular strands of activity relating to specific groups including sexually abused children, elderly people and marginalized populations on Rodrigues Island.  Through 2 permanent facilities, and a private sector-supported daycare centre, MFPWA’s 15 staff and 550 volunteers deliver services including family planning, the prevention and management of HIV and AIDS through voluntary counselling and testing (VCT), support for people living with HIV/AIDS, infertility management, antenatal and post-natal care, post-abortion care, the diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and screening for cancers of the reproductive systems. The Member Association also operates peer-educator-led outreach programmes targeting hotels, export processing zones and popular tourist hot spots.  MFPWA has played a critical role in promoting the integration of family life education into the national school curriculum and its powerful, informed advocacy has been influential in shaping government legislation on SRH, particularly in relation to HIV and AIDS. MFPWA partners with and advises government departments which address health, quality of life, women’s rights, child development, family welfare, social security and youth and sports. MFPWA works with a large number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) including the Mauritius Council of Social Service, the Mauritius Alliance of Women, PILS (People living with AIDS), SOS Pauvrete, the National Women’s Council, the Senior Citizen Council and Link. Donors include the Indian Ocean Commission and UNFPA. Website: http://mauritiusfamilyplanning.com

Ghana is a country which has deep-rooted cultural norms, and structural barriers that perpetuate poor sexual and reproductive health. These include high risks of maternal mortality, high numbers of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, and low levels of contraceptive use. The Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG) was set up in 1967 to provide family planning services to the people of Ghana. Over the years, its work has expanded to cover a whole range of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. Today, in addition to basic family planning support, PPAG provides maternal and child health care, infertility management, and voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV and AIDS. It also provides other SRH services (for example, programmes for the management of erectile dysfunction).   PPAG’s operation depends on a team of 103 staff, over 1,000 volunteers, 300 peer educators, 551 community-based distributors (CBDs) and a Youth Action Movement membership of 810 young people. PPAG's delivers services and programmes through 1,356 service points, including 11 permanent clinics, 54 mobile clinics and over 1,000 community-based service points (CBSs). PPAG works with a huge roster of partners, right across government in health, education, HIV and AIDS, youth, and population planning departments. Its civil society networks include over 15 non-governmental organizations. It receives financial support from the Japanese International Cooperation Agency, the Japanese Organization for International Cooperation in Family Planning, UNFPA, the Programme For Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH), the African Youth Alliance (AYA), the Big Lottery Fund (BLF) of UK, DANIDA, the French Embassy, the UK’s Department for International Development (DfID), UNICEF and GTZ.   Contacts Website: www.ppag.org.gh Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Planned-Parenthood-Association-of-Ghana-PPAG-258152110962577/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ppagghana

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/

The Planned Parenthood Association of Sierra Leone (PPASL), established in 1959, works on a range of serious sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues to improve people's health and quality of life. A key focus is to improve access to maternal health care, to reduce the risk of maternal and infant death. PPASL accesses the community through 5 service points, 12 workplace outreach projects, and 3 youth centres, via a 40-strong permanent staff team, backed by nearly 300 volunteers, 9 community-based distributors (CBDs) and a Youth Action Movement membership of 150. There is a 90% prevalence of female genital mutilation (FGM) in the country, and finding ways to handle the attendant psychological and physical trauma is one of the organization’s major challenges. Much of PPASL’s work is directed towards behaviour change communication (BCC) among community leaders, police and army personnel and Muslim and Christian groups. Safe motherhood, family planning, and the sensitisation of young people to SRH concerns are also central to the direct services which PPASL provides.    The Member Association works in partnership with government health and development ministries and the Sierra Leone Armed Forces Hospitals. Non-governmental organization (NGO) partners include the Reproductive Health Service, CHASL, MSSL, National AIDS Secretariat/SHARP and the Marie Stopes Society. PPASL receives financial support from UNFPA, UNICEF, UNAIDS, the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS, Plan International, MOHS & RH UNIT, Marie Stopes Society, SL Red Cross Society and Action Aid.  Contacts Website: www.ppasl.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/454639337890032/

As the statistics show, Nigeria faces considerable sexual and reproductive health (SRH) challenges. Established over 25 years ago, the Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN) is one of the country’s most experienced SRH organizations and nationally, it delivers around 10% of all family planning services. Its work extends to voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) in HIV and AIDS, antenatal and post-natal care, post-abortion care, infertility diagnosis and counselling, and education and counselling on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV and AIDS. PPFN’s network of service delivery points is substantial: it has over 2,300 distinct service points. This includes 68 permanent clinics, 1,558 associated clinics and 27 community-based services (CBSs). The team consists of 110 permanent staff, over 750 volunteers and a Youth Action Movement membership of 350. Working together, they deliver a phenomenal number of sexual health services. PPFN partners closely with the Nigerian government to deliver services and providing technical guidance on policy development and implementation. It works in collaboration with other non-governmental organizations (NGO) and with private sector companies including The Central Bank of Nigeria, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, Allied Products Plc and Nigeria Breweries. PPFN receives financial support from the UNDP, the Global HIV/AIDS Initiative, Pathfinder Nigeria, and IPPF’s Japan Trust Fund.