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Pathfinder and FIGO Sign a Memorandum of Understanding

WATERTOWN, MA, June 18, 2010 

Pathfinder International is pleased to announce the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding between Pathfinder and the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO). FIGO is a worldwide organization that brings together obstetrician-gynecologist societies and associations from 124 countries. These member associations often serve as a powerful voice for supporting women’s and maternal health.

Over the last several years, Pathfinder and FIGO have worked in joint ventures to promote access and quality of reproductive health services throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and Asia. This agreement will build on Pathfinder’s existing efforts to increase collaboration between reproductive health organizations and assist FIGO in improving their capacities at both the central and national levels. 

Pathfinder will help FIGO at the central level to facilitate the sharing and dissemination of both reproductive health supplies and information.  Pathfinder will also work with FIGO affiliates in each country to implement cutting edge methods to engage local communities as well as address the unnecessary deaths of women caused by postpartum hemorrhage, maternal death, and cervical cancer.

Pathfinder is especially excited about the opportunity to collaborate with FIGO on their Prevention of Unsafe Abortion initiative. In May and June of 2010, Pathfinder representatives attended the third round of regional workshops hosted by FIGO in Alexandria, Egypt and Lima, Peru. The goal of these meetings was to form action plans for addressing unsafe abortion. The plans included promoting access to safe abortion, post-abortion care for women who lack safe abortion access, and access to contraceptives so women can prevent unintended pregnancy. 

At the workshops, Pathfinder staff members presented on their work to improve access to safe abortion and postabortion care in northern, central and southern Africa, as well as in Latin America. In addition to giving presentations and sharing their experiences, the attendees formed country teams with the purpose of carrying the work of the initiative back home.

The signing of this memorandum of understanding allows both parties to maximize impact by joining forces.  It is through such endeavors that we not only strengthen Pathfinder as an organization by growing and learning from our colleagues, but also improve the quality and strength of the programs and services we provide in the field. Pathfinder and FIGO will now be able to better support each other and compound the effect on the reproductive health and rights of women by collaboration within the countries where both organizations work.

For more information please contact Linda Suttenfield, Director of Communications, at lsuttenfield@pathfind.org.

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