A Lasting Legacy
There are many ways to support EngenderHealth’s work, both today and in the years to come. Remembering EngenderHealth in your will, estate plan, or other long-range financial arrangement is a powerful commitment that enables us to carry out our mission. It also gives you the satisfaction of knowing that your support for EngenderHealth, a global leader in family planning and reproductive health care, will continue well into the future.
By naming EngenderHealth as a beneficiary of your estate, you can make a meaningful contribution to our future without diminishing available assets today. And besides sustaining EngenderHealth’s programs, your gift can provide financial and tax benefits for you and your heirs.
Create a lasting legacy of health, hope, and opportunity at EngenderHealth. To learn how, contact Danielle Fitzgerald by phone at 1-800-564-2872, ext. 8006, or by e-mail at dfitzgerald@engenderhealth.org.
Have you already made plans to support EngenderHealth in the future? Please let us know so we can extend our appreciation and welcome you as a member of our Legacy Society.
President George F. Brown, M.D., M.P.H. EngenderHealth is a leading international 440 Ninth Avenue Ana Langer, M.D. Charles S. Carignan, M.D. reproductive health organization working New York, NY 10001 Rosemary Ellis to improve the quality of health care 1-800-564-2872 Board of Directors Ana Maria Goldani, Ph.D. in the world’s poorest communities. [email protected] Stasia A. Obremskey, M.B.A., Chair Uma Lele, Ph.D. EngenderHealth empowers people www.engenderhealth.org Francine Coeytaux, M.P.H., Margaret Neuse, M.P.H. to make informed choices about Chair, Executive Committee Virginia Ofosu-Amaah contraception, trains health professionals Photo credits: Nafis Sadik, M.D., Vice Chair Jeffrey O’Malley to make motherhood safer, promotes M. Tuschman/EngenderHealth, p. 1, p.4; Brenda J. Drake, J.D., Secretary Frances H. Snedeker gender equity, enhances the quality of P. Perchal/EngenderHealth, p. 2; Mary K. Stevens, Assistant Secretary Michael Stevens HIV and AIDS services, and advocates G. Hecker/EngenderHealth, p. 3. Karen N. Horn, Treasurer Belle Taylor-McGhee for positive policy change. The nonprofit Robert D. Petty, Assistant Treasurer Cecily C. Williams, J.D. organization works in partnership with © 2009 EngenderHealth. Wendy L. Wysong, J.D. governments, institutions, communities, “Men As Partners” is a registered Janice Hansen Zakin, M.D. and health care professionals in more trademark of EngenderHealth. than 25 countries around the world. Printed on recycled paper. Directors Emeriti Lyman B. Brainerd, Jr., M.B.A., Ed.D. Update is published two times a year and Anne H. Howat may be reproduced without permission, provided the material is distributed free of charge and the publisher is acknowledged.
www.engenderhealth.org 2009 / N o. 1
THIS ISSUE
Improving Global Reproductive Health
The RESPOND Project Actions to Improve Global Reproductive Health Supreme The Obama Administration offers great promise 2. Commit $1 Billion to Family Planning Mfalapitsa: for the global health community. Improving While U.S. aid for international HIV programs health care in developing countries would save has risen exponentially, funding for family Bringing countless lives, while enhancing how the United planning has stagnated. In fact, when adjusted Change States is viewed abroad. Indeed, recent polls for inflation, the U.S. budget for global family through Song show Americans rank health as a top priority for planning is about the same as it was in 1974. development assistance. Meanwhile, an estimated 201 million women In Brief in developing countries want to delay or limit To strengthen the United States’ leadership in births but lack access to contraception—and A Lasting this arena, EngenderHealth has identified five top this demand is expected to grow 40% by 2050. Legacy actions to improve global reproductive health: EngenderHealth calls for the U.S. government to increase resources devoted to family planning to 1. Repair the Damage from the Global Gag Rule $1 billion, from the $545 million allotted in 2009. The Global Gag Rule—reinstated by President Bush in 2001—had terrible consequences on 3. Support Smart HIV Prevention Programs poor women and their families. Twenty countries The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East lost U.S.- (PEPFAR) made the United States a leader in donated contraceptives, and many organizations responding to the global HIV pandemic. While and clinics were forced to reduce services, lay off PEPFAR has made significant progress, its impact staff, or shut down entirely. President Obama and reach could be even greater. Three key ways lifted the Gag Rule on January 23, but much work to achieve this include: integrating HIV prevention needs to be done to rebuild infrastructure that with other reproductive health services, like family crumbled over the last eight years, reopen clinics, planning; no longer requiring organizations to and train and equip health care staff. sign an antiprostitution pledge, which limits
www.engenderhealth.org continued on next page > RESPOND to Expand Contraceptive Choices Worldwide
Experts agree: Family planning saves (vasectomy and female sterilization). At all levels (from hospitals to single- lives, reduces poverty, and spurs Although safe, convenient, and cost- room clinics to mobile outreach units), development. Yet, even though there effective, these methods remain RESPOND will strengthen the quality of is need, contraception remains out underutilized in developing countries. family planning services while increasing of reach for millions of couples in awareness of these services among developing countries. To increase access RESPOND will reach populations most clients. The project will also advocate for to high-quality family planning services, in need of services, including women supportive policies, effective programs, the U.S. Agency for International receiving postpartum or postabortion and sustained funding. Development (USAID) is supporting the care, people living with HIV, and youth. five-year global RESPOND Project, led One strategy for doing this will be to EngenderHealth’s RESPOND partners by EngenderHealth. integrate family planning with HIV are: Cicatelli Associates, Inc; Family prevention and treatment, as well as Health International; Futures Institute; In particular, RESPOND will concentrate with maternal health and social services. Johns Hopkins University Center for on expanding availability of those family Communications Programs; planning services known to be the most Ensuring that clients can make informed, Meridian Group International, Inc.; effective: long-acting contraception voluntary decisions about family and the Population Council. (intrauterine devices and hormonal planning and that high-quality medical implants) and permanent methods standards are met will be priorities.
“RESPOND will bridge the gap between global knowledge and action so access to and choice of the most effective contraceptive methods can be a reality where they are needed most.”
—Lynn Bakamjian, Project Director, the RESPOND Project
> continued from front page programs’ ability to reach sex workers (who are highly 5. Support the Reproductive Health of Young People vulnerable to HIV); and prioritizing gender equality and violence As the largest generation in human history comes of age, the prevention as key strategies for reducing HIV transmission. need for family planning and reproductive health services has never been greater. Expanding these services for young people, 4. Invest in Maternal Health as well as improving opportunities for both boys and girls to Every minute, a woman dies due to pregnancy or childbirth, go to school, decide who and when to marry, and find decent and thousands more endure devastating injuries—almost all work, are prerequisites for sustainable global development. of which are preventable or treatable. The United States could help save the lives of more than 500,000 women a year by: As President Obama stated in his inaugural address, we share increasing access to contraception so that all pregnancies are a common humanity, and “all are equal, all are free, and all planned and wanted; ensuring the availability of emergency deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.” obstetric care; and boosting supplies of low-cost drugs, like Visit www.engenderhealth.org to learn how EngenderHealth is antibiotics and magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts), that can make leading campaigns to help make this vision a reality, and how the difference between life and death. you can get involved.
number of abortions that could be averted by providing contraception 22 million to the 201 million women worldwide with unmet need “MAP workshops In Brief and rallies are so successful because they are engaging EngenderHealth was awarded a and nonthreatening— three-year, $11 million grant from easy to understand, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation personalize, and apply to coordinate the Maternal Health Task Force Project, a global initiative in your own life.” aimed at shaping a collective effort to advance maternal health —Supreme Mfalapitsa worldwide. Bringing together partner organizations, the Task Force will mobilize advocates and serve as a catalyst to address one of the most Supreme Mfalapitsa: Bringing Change neglected areas in global health. through Song and Outreach
A vocalist and songwriter, Mogomotsi of common humanity. To help motivate Male circumcision is increasingly “Supreme” Mfalapitsa had been young men to stop violence against recognized as an important practice singing about social issues since he was women and prevent HIV, Supreme for preventing HIV. EngenderHealth 17. So when he heard about the Men often reminds them of Ubuntu, which is partnering with Family Health As Partners® (MAP) program, he was forbids the abuse of others. International and the University eager to participate in a workshop and of Illinois at Chicago on the Male found himself at ease discussing issues While promoting health among young Circumcision Consortium to improve usually discomforting to others. “In a men, Supreme has become an expert and expand access to voluntary society where men are supposed to be on another important issue: male adult medical circumcision services in tough, I learned early that as a man it’s circumcision to prevent HIV. He was Kenya, as part of an overall strategy okay to cry, ask for help, and find other a keynote presenter on the topic at for reducing HIV infections in men. ways to solve conflict without the use the International AIDS Conference Working closely with the Kenyan of violence,” he noted. “I saw how in Mexico in August 2008, and he government, the Consortium focuses negative stereotypes impacted boys and has traveled to Ethiopia, Kenya, and on Nyanza Province, which has the men, and I wanted to show them that Switzerland as a youth advisor for the country’s highest HIV prevalence. you don’t have to follow that path.” World Health Organization.
Supreme soon found another way to “Working with EngenderHealth has use his voice: as a MAP “Transformation taken me places and introduced me to Communities across South Africa Agent” for EngenderHealth. For three people that helped me improve myself participated in “Men As Partners® years, he has been talking with young in many ways. I can be my best helping Week” from March 20–28, men on the street about gender young men see women as equals, seek 2009. The national campaign, equality and HIV prevention, as well out health services, and improve the held annually and organized by as leading workshops and organizing quality of their lives.” He added, “And EngenderHealth’s South Africa office, rallies nationwide to call attention to I have gained so much inspiration for is designed to motivate boys and these issues. He credits his parents my songs!” men to take action against HIV and for inspiring him to be an activist. His gender-based violence. This year’s father—a freedom fighter in South Visit www.engenderhealth.org/supreme theme was personal transformation, Africa’s liberation movement—and his to watch Supreme performing a song and events included community- mother both instilled in him belief in he composed about the impact of HIV. based workshops, mural painting, Ubuntu, a traditional African concept and voluntary HIV counseling and testing drives.
the reduction in a man’s risk of acquiring HIV For more information visit 60% through heterosexual sex if he is circumcised www.engenderhealth.org/inbrief