View the latest family planning advocacy news from our partners.
Pathfinder International in India gained the support of UNFPA to collaborate on advancing corporate social responsibility (CSR) for family planning. In November 2016, Pathfinder signed a Memorandum of Understanding with UNFPA to provide technical assistance to corporations to enhance investment in health and wellbeing of women, men, adolescents and young people in India.
Originally posted on National Geographic on February 3, 2017.
In a recent op-ed, Melinda Gates of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation shared why she advocates for over 225 million women around the globe who still lack access to modern contraceptives. Read an excerpt from "Want to Empower Women Worldwide? Give Them Access to Contraceptives" below:
Originally posted on www.gatesinstitute.org on January 30, 2017.
Jose “Oying” Rimon II, Director of the Bill & Melinda Gates Institute for Population and Reproductive Health, published a letter for colleagues regarding the Mexico City Policy:
Dear Colleagues,
In August 2016, Ministry of Health authorities from Hidalgo, Oaxaca, and San Luis Potosí states approved the use of social monitoring in 13 health centers. Mexfam, the Ampliando el Acceso local partner in Mexico, received permission to implement their social monitoring work plan in these health centers as a result of their advocacy.
The Jharkhand state government in India has released 5.5 million rupees ($83,800) to procure instruments necessary for the provision of quality family planning services. In July the government issued directives to all 24 districts to procure instruments for services including non-surgical vasectomy, intrauterine contraceptive device insertion, and mini-laparotomy (a common form of tubal ligation.)
Makueni County Government is starting the year with a newly launched family planning costed implementation plan (2016-2020) in place.
County Governor Professor Kivutha Kibwana presided over the ceremony on December 9, 2016. If fully implemented, Governor Kibwana said that the costed strategy will help the county reach its target of increasing access to modern contraceptives to 72% by the year 2020. Modern contraceptive use in Makueni county is currently 65% (Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2014.)
Originally posted on Johns Hopkins Center for Communications Programs
Results from a three-year operations research project show increased funding and use of long-acting contraception following evidence-based advocacy efforts
Smallpox is eradicated; polio nearly so. Can other global health initiatives find the same success? A newly published journal article by Advance Family Planning (AFP), “Connecting Global Goals to Local Priorities” explores the challenge of achieving broad international goals within local government plans—and how advocacy is integral to spurring action.
Population Reference Bureau (PRB) collaborated with Advance Family Planning Tanzania to develop a package of advocacy materials highlighting the latest preliminary 2015-16 Demographic and Health Survey results on adolescent pregnancy and youth family planning.
Family planning is one of the most cost-effective interventions to improve women’s health and wellbeing, reduce unintended pregnancies and prevent maternal, infant, and child mortality. Investments in family planning therefore have incredible potential to impact a country’s development trajectory.
In September 2016, the Minister of Health of the Dominican Republic (DR) presented the Protocolo de Atención para Manejo de Consejería y Asesoría en Anticoncepción para Adolescentes (Contraceptive Counseling Care Protocol for Youth) to the National Health Service, the media, and civil society. The protocol will ensure health care providers in all public and private health facilities in the country deliver quality and confidential sexual and reproductive health care for young people.
In September 2016, Ambuja Cement Limited, a leading cement producing company in India, incorporated family planning for the first time into its corporate social responsibility program—the Ambuja Cement Foundation (ACF). This is the first advocacy win for AFP local partner Pathfinder International India.