Your Ultimate Guide To Barbados

The Barbados Family Planning Association

The Barbados Family Planning Association (BFPA) was established in May 1954 and subsequently incorporated by an Act of Parliament in June 1967 to address the existing socio-economic problems of overpopulation. Among the Association’s primary objectives was the reduction in the country’s birth rate and improving the quality of life of Barbadians, by helping them to determine the number and appropriate spacing of their children through family life education and contraceptive services.

The Barbados Family Planning Association is an independent voluntary organisation, which is administered by a council of volunteers (members) whose primary functions are policy formulation, direction and fund raising (resource development). Administrative and other duties are performed by staff headed by an Executive Director.

The Association has contributed significantly to the reduction of the country’s birth rate, moving from 34.1 per 1000 in 1955 to 12.7 per 1000 in 2004, thereby placing this country’s demographic rates on a par with that of most developed countries.

In keeping with its dynamic perspective, the BFPA’s services now include training in Family Life Education and Peer Counselling at basic and advanced levels, a weekly radio programme "Family Life Issues in Focus"; the publication of a biannual magazine "Family", and ongoing community outreach programmes. These programmes are geared toward providing individuals with the education and skills necessary for functioning as resource persons within their communities.

Lecture services are currently being offered to schools and other establishments. In recent years, the organisation’s focus has been on quality of life issues instead of traditional fertility and contraceptive services.

This is embodied in the new Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Global Strategy of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF).

Mission Statement

The Barbados Family Planning Association dedicates itself to the achievement of a better quality of life for Barbadians through the promotion and provision of Sexual and Reproductive Health, Family Planning, Family Life Education and related services.

The Barbados Family Planning Association  works to promote a positive view of sexuality and to enable people to make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health and well-being.

The Associatin provides sexual and reproductive health information, clinical services, education, training and research.

Services include - contraception, STI checks, menopause, talking to your children about sexuality, educational resources, vasectomy, PMS, adolescent sexuality, pregnancy and many others.

Further information on Barbados Family Planning Association, Bay Street, St Michael, Barbados can be sourced at the following website http://bfpa.net/. Telephone (246) 426-2027, Fax:  (246) 427-6611.