GUYANA RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD ASSOCIATION

Promoting Responsible Sexual Behaviour and Reproductive Health through Information, Education and Services.

BRIEF HISTORY

The GRPA a non-governmental, non-profit organization was established in 1973 and registered in 1975 under the Friendly Societies Act. From the beginning the organization collaborated closely with the Ministry of Health, Maternal and Child Health Department to Lecture on Safe motherhood issues but expressly avoided the overt promotion of family planning, since any organized effort to have openly done so was met with suspicion, as it was the popular view that the organization's aim was to control the nations birthrate in a country with less than 1 million people spread across 83,000 sq miles.

Through continued advocacy and in continued collaboration with the Ministry of Health the Association began to openly promote Family Life Education and Family Planning issues highlighting its importance to an improved quality of life and National Development.

The Association eventually began offering contraceptive services at its Headquarter and Government clinics in the early 1980's.

The Association now offers a more holistic and wider range of Sexual and Reproductive Services.

CLINIC SERVICES

* Family Planning - a several methods of contraceptives

• Infertility Management.
• Pap Smear
• Colposcopy
• Cryosurgery
• Pregnancy Test
• Management of Menopausal Syndrome
• Counselling
• Punch Biopsy
• Emergency cotraceptive
• Testicular Examination
• Syndromic Management of STDs

• Training in Contraceptive Technology and Reproductive Health for Health Professionals who function at MCH clinics
• Peer Educators (Counselling) Training of youths from in and out of schools. The training is focused on Human Sexuality, Sexual and Reproductive Health, with the aim of developing a cadre of Youth Peer Counsellors who are equipped with relevant information to guide and assist their peers to effectively deal with their sexuality and other issues with which they are challenged.
• Community Work Training is now a pivotal part of our new focus. Community Workers are identified and trained in the many areas of Sexual and Reproductive Health and also in the facilitation of discussion on the issues surrounding Sexual and Reproductive Health with the aim of having those communities address those issues affecting them.
• Skills Training sponsorship is provided for the training of women in rural and depressed communities with the objective of providing them with an opportunity to earn an income. Family Planning and Sexual and Reproductive Health discussions are done during the skills training programme.
• A Youth Centre which caters directly to the needs of out-of-school youth and teen mothers through programmes of remedial reading and writing and a wide range of vocational skills and the core academic subjects - Math and English. The two year programme caters to the ages 14 to 18 and the graduates are certified at the end of the programme.
• An Under Twenty Club provides yet another opportunity for youths to be sensitized to Family Life Education and life skills issues and to be exposed to developmental activities. They meet every Friday at 4pm. the Association's Headquarters.
• Reference Library - Literature on Population, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Family Planning, Family Life Education and Adolescent issues are available. Video materials on the same issues are available on short term loan.

The Board of Directors is elected biennially from among the Active Members of the Association. It is comprised of thirteen members. Their role is to provide policy direction and to assist in the formulation of strategic development plans.

MEMBERSHIP.

PASSIVE MEMBERS- Persons who are only interested in utilizing the services offered.

ACTIVE MEMBERS - Persons who are interested in giving voluntary support to enhance the delivery of the Association's programmes and services. From this group of members, the Board of Directors is elected.

CORPORATE MEMBERS- Employers( public and private sectors) who are interested in providing their employees with sexual and reproductive health services including family planning at the work sites.

All 3 categories pay an annual subscription.
 

FUNDING for our programmes and services are provided by:

International Planned Parenthood Federation/Western Hemisphere Region (IPPF/WHR)

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

European Union (EU)

Twenty First Century Fund

Population Concern
 
 

 AFFILIATES

International Planned Parenthood Federation/Western Hemisphere Region (IPPF/WHR)

Caribbean Family Planning Affiliation (CFPA)
 

# of New Acceptors of Contraceptive for Jan-Dec 97  [GRPA, Regional MCH and CBD clinics]	11,806
# of  Contraceptive visits by all Acceptors	66,854

 Write to:

Email: grpa@ewirelessgy.com

Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association, 70, Quamina Street, South Cummingsburg, Georgetown, South America.

Telephone 592-225-3286, 225-0738, Hotline - 225-6493 - Monday to Thursday 08:00 to 16:30; (11:00 to 19:30 GMT)

  Fridays: 08:00 to 15:30 (11:00 to 18:30 GMT)

Fax: 592-225-2144

President, Board of Directors: Beverly Braithwaite-Chan

Executive Director: Frederick Cox