Health Minister Moses Jn. Baptiste has pledged government’s continued support for the Saint Lucia Planned Parenthood Association (SLPPA).
According to ministry officials, the SLPPA, a recipient of an annual government subvention, has been making an invaluable contribution to Saint Lucia for more than 50 years, in the area of sexual and reproductive health.
Executive Director of the SLPPA Geralda Bray expressed gratitude to the Health Minister for taking time to visit and more so, for his promise of continued government support.
“We were pleased that the minister chose to visit and to show support and interest in our work surrounding sexual and reproductive health. We look forward to continued collaboration and support,” she said.
The Saint Lucia Planned Parenthood Association is an affiliated member of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and the Caribbean Family Planning Affiliation (CFPA). The association operates a fully functional clinic offering a gamut of sexual reproductive health service including screening and treatment of cancers of the reproductive organs for both males and females, all forms of contraceptives including implants, and a full range of gynecological and pre and post natal care.
Jn. Baptiste has accepted an invitation to meet with Dona Da Costa Martines in the new year. Martines is the Deputy Regional Director of the IPPF regional office in the Americas and the Caribbean Regional Office.
The Minister also promised to create an opportunity for the SLPPA to connect with some of the island’s diplomatic allies to advance their services.
The SLPPA continues to be the main source of information on Sexual and Reproductive Health services in Saint Lucia. The association is an avid supporter of the Youth Advocacy Movement (YAM) Saint Lucia, which remains an important element of SLPPA’s youth work on the island.
YAM caters for young people within the age range of 10 to 25 years and engages participants in several educational activities with a focus on sexual and reproductive health. The activities take many forms such as regular group meetings, training sessions, outreach programs and recreational activities.