Georgetown: Under the theme “Advancing Sexual & Reproductive Health & Rights for all Guyanese” the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA) will kicked off its 40th anniversary celebrations today (Sunday) at the Seawall Bandstand, Kingston, Georgetown.
Executive Director, Reverend Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth said on this occasion, GRPA will also launch the Vision 2020 of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), an international non-governmental organisation (NGO) of which GRPA is an accredited member association. The IPPF works in 172 countries to empower the most vulnerable women, men and young people to access life-saving opportunities and to live with dignity.
The IPPF Vision 2020 is a 10-point plan to put sexual and reproductive health and rights at the heart of the international development agenda. It urges governments to meet 10 goals, among these are: reducing maternal mortality due to unsafe abortion by 75 per cent, making comprehensive sexuality education available to all and recognising sexual rights as human rights. By 2020, if an additional 120 million women and couples are given access to desired contraception options, 200,000 fewer women and girls will die in pregnancy and childbirth and 50 million abortions will be prevented.
The GRPA was established in 1973 by the Guyana Women’s League of Social Services (GWLSS) led by Olga Byrne, the association’s first executive director. The idea of the association emerged within a context where access to family planning and maternal health information, education and services was lacking. Sexual and reproductive health and rights are linked to major issues facing Guyana, such as poverty, school dropout, domestic and sexual violence, homophobia, gender inequality, high risk sexual behaviour, maternal mortality, cervical, breast and prostate cancer, STIs, HIV, and other health and social challenges.
The GWLSS responded to this situation, which they saw as critical to the advancement of women’s equality in Guyana. Today, GRPA is a leading organisation in Guyana for sexual and reproductive health, combining medical services with counselling, education and other support programmes.
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