Advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights in Côte d’Ivoire: highlights from the IPPF Director General’s visit

Abidjan, February 13, 2024 – The International Planned Parenthood Federation’s (IPPF) Director General, Dr. Alvaro Bermejo, concluded a four-day visit to Côte d’Ivoire last week. Hosted by IPPF member association « Association Ivoirienne pour le Bien-Être Familial (AIBEF) », Dr. Bermejo met with key stakeholders to discuss priorities and challenges related to advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in the country. 

“I want to thank the Ivorian government for its efforts and partnership with AIBEF over the years to expand access to quality sexual and reproductive healthcare information and services. During my meetings, I emphasized IPPF’s commitment to continue investing and supporting the country’s SRHR efforts. An improved legal framework would facilitate our work and allow us to achieve greater impact,” said Dr. Bermejo. 

Highlights from the visit included meetings with the Minister of Health, Dr. Pierre Dimba, the President of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council, Dr. Eugène Aka Aouélé, and the Chief of Staff of the Minister of Women, Family and Children, Mr. Moussa Diarrassouba. Discussions focused on ongoing collaboration and future opportunities to strengthen SRHR policy, programming and awareness in Côte d’Ivoire. 

Dr. Bermejo also met with key partners including UNFPA, PSI, MSI, IPAS, PATHFINDER and local NGOs supporting AIBEF’s work on the ground. Partners highlighted impactful partnerships on various SRHR issues and exploring ways to enhance collaboration moving forward. The visit also included a meeting with UNAIDS Country Office to identify opportunities for closer collaboration between HIV and family planning services. 

At the community level, Dr. Bermejo visited “Espace Confiance”, an AIBEF-supported clinic providing SRHR services to key populations, including members of the LGBTQ+ community, transgender people, and sex workers. He spoke directly with clients to better understand the services they access and persistent barriers faced. Finally, recognizing the importance of leaving no one behind, the Director General visited the National Ivorian Institute for the Promotion of the Blind (INIPA) which recently received support from AIBEF to translate a comprehensive sexuality education manual into braille so visually impaired young people can access this critical information. 

“This visit allowed for critical high-level discussions about how we can work together to fully meet the sexual and reproductive health needs of all people in Côte d’Ivoire. It also revealed grassroots perspectives to ensure our programmes address barriers and gaps experienced by key populations and marginalized groups on a daily basis as we advance universal health coverage,” concluded Dr. Bermejo.