WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTE
REGIONAL OFFICE FOR THE WESTERN PACIFIC BUREAU REGIONAL DU PACIFIQUE OCCIDENTAL
REGIONAL COMMfITEE
WPR/RC44/NGO/4
Forty-fourth session Manila 13-17 September 1993 Agenda item 25
17 September 1993 ORIGINAL: ENGLISH
STATEMENT BY MRS CLIO BRION ZABALA, REPRESENTATIVE OF THE INTERNATIONAL PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION
Mr Chairman, Distinguished Representatives and Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a great pleasure and privilege for the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) to be invited to attend this meeting of the World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific. We are also particularly grateful that you have specifically set aside some time for the IPPF to make this statement on behalf of the Federation. IPPF was admitted into official relations with the World Health Organization in 1966. This was followed several years later with a WHO-IPPF Memorandum of Understanding in 1976. This memorandum of understanding forms the basis of collaboration which exists both regionally, and at country level. IPPF has been an active partner with WHO in the promotion of primary health care as a whole, as well as in several specific areas such as family planning, contraceptive technology, adolescent health, women's health and development, and AIDS prevention. We also worked very closely with WHO in setting up IPPF's International Medical Advisory Panel, which sets the standards and guidelines in medical aspects of family planning' programmes which are then implemented by family planning associations in all of our l30-odd member countries. The Director of WHO's Human Reproduction Programme participates in the deliberations of the International Medical Advisory Panel of IPPF. We are also a permanent member of WHO's Human Reproduction Programme's Policy Co-ordination Committee. Internationally, we have collaborated closely with WHO in the development of programme guidelines on many topics, including Barrier Contraceptives and Spermicides and their role in family planning care; Injectable Contraceptives; Technical and Managerial guidelines for va~ectomy services; Oral Contraceptives; Contraceptive Implants; Female sterilization; Natural
-2-
Family Planning; and Contraceptive Method Mix. We have also worked closely with WHO's special programme on AIDS since 1987 and most recently we have continued to work with WHO's global programme on AIDS. We were privileged to participate in WHO's meetings for the prevention and control of AIDS. IPPF's affiliates participate at meetings of the National AIDS Committees at the country level. In the area of AIDS, we assist WHO in the production of AIDS prevention guidelines for Maternal and Child Health and Family Planning Programme Managers. Many of our professional staff are on WHO's Scientific and Technical Advisory Group for adolescent and reproductive health programmes. At our recent 40th anniversary meetings in Delhi, WHO collaborated with us as cosponsors and ran a symposium at our Family Planning Congress. IPPF's Strategic Plan was approved at the Members' Assembly in Delhi, containing many of the elements of WHO's objectives, including those on Quality of Care, Unsafe Abortion, and Sexual Health.
_
It is clear from what has been said thus far. that we have a long history of very close relations with the World Health Organization and work as partners in improving health worldwide. It is our hope that we can continue to build on this strong collaboration and count on WHO's continued support both regionally and nationally. At a regional level, it is also our hope that we can look forward to continued interaction with WHO offices so that we are able to coordinate our support, where appropriate, to nongovernmental agencies and in particular. to Family Planning Associations. Several FPAs in the Western Pacific Region have strong family planning programmes to supplement and complement Government effort. In these efforts, appropriate support from WHO would also be helpful. Once again we would like to express our deepest appreciation for the invitation to attend this meeting. Thank you, Mr Chairman.
-