Looking Ahead

I can look back with pride and satisfaction at my eight year long association with SIFPSA. During this period it has grown from a fledgling organization, trying to find its feet, to a professional body with the expertise to design, manage and evaluate complex reproductive and child health interventions. At the same time it has done yeoman service in increasing the access and improving the quality of family planning services in UP.

In this period the family planning scenario in UP has also undergone a fundamental change. While in 1994, no NGO of any standing was willing to be associated with the family planning programme, today SIFPSA has forged strong and enduring partnerships with the private sector. More than 100 NGOs, cooperatives, trusts and corporations have put, hitherto nonexistent spacing services, firmly on the agenda. Their impact on women's health is immense.

The programme has also become broad based. Utilization of various networks and development of innovative models for community mobilization, integrated services through RCH camps and decentralization of the programme to the district level, to mention only a few, have increased the reach of quality services.

I also cherish my association with the professionally designed communication and marketing efforts, and the cost effective and immensely successful tetanus toxoid immunization campaigns for pregnant women which have been huge, path -breaking efforts in bringing about desired behaviour changes.

SIFPSA is now in the last year of implementation of the USAID-funded IFPS Project. A key challenge we face today is to consolidate gains of the past and focus on successful strategies to maximize impacts. The design of the follow on project to IFPS, based on lessons learned, to further expand the private sector programme along with communication and social marketing activities, will be a priority.

As the key partner of government in the RCH sector in UP, SIFPSA is committed to making quality reproductive & child health services available in far flung rural areas and urban slums. Efforts will be made to improve the utilization of these services by promoting clinical service sites and trained providers and addressing myths and fears that are hurdles in the adoption of family planning.

At the same time SIFPSA will try to diversify its sources of funding by tapping other donors, private foundations and the Government of India. With its established organization and systems, experience and expertise, SIFPSA is ideally positioned to take up management of larger projects like RCH-2 with a strong public system orientation.

While continuing to do what we do best, we will also strive to chart out a new course of action. Development and implementation of an integrated HIV/AIDS strategy with emphasis on prevention, care and support, advocacy and dealing with issues related to stigma and discrimination will receive special attention.

I look forward to working together with all our employees and partners to make SIFPSA an institution of excellence and a beacon of hope for our clients in the RCH sector in UP.