“For Family and Health”
Armenian Association

Mission

Non-governmental Organization: “For Family and Health” Armenian Association (AFHA) is a public non-commercial organization, which has the mission to contribute to the improvement of health and well being of all families and individuals throughout the Republic of Armenia and in the Armenian Diaspora through advocacy for sexual and reproductive health and rights for all, provision of the appropriate information, education, counselling, health care and referral.

Historical Development

The AFHA was established in 1995 by the group of Armenian volunteers, who have a vision that our society is enriched with healthy, wealthy, and happy families and individuals. Since 1999 the AFHA has been accepted as a member of the International Planned Parenthood Federation – European Network (IPPF-EN), which contributed significantly to institutional development of the organization. The national headquarter of the AFHA is located in the city of Yerevan in its own office premises, which was procured in 1999 through the Building Loan from the IPPF-EN.
The AFHA has Branches in all regions of the Republic of Armenia, as well as two subsidiary companies: “Artavazd” Publishing Network” Ltd. and the “Youth Vernissage” Ltd., which have been created in support to programmatic activities and institutional capacity building of the AFHA.

Main Principles

• The activities of the organization are based on the principles of legality, publicity, self-governance, equality and volunteerism.

• Being a non-for profit organization, the AFHA shall not be controlled by the commercial interests of its members. All its income, commodities, and property are applied solely towards the promotion of goals and objectives of the organization and not to any one or group of individuals.

• The AFHA does not discriminate on grounds of race, ethnicity, religion, creed, nationality, gender and sexual orientation, disability, age or political belief, and family relations, especially in approving applications for membership, in recruiting staff, providing information or services, or in any other aspect of the Association’s work. No service should be denied because of inability of the client to pay. All information and services about the family planning and sexual and reproductive health shall be provided strictly on the basis of voluntary acceptance and informed choice.

Sources of Property Formation and Regulations of its Usage

The material and financial means of the AFHA are formed by membership and subscription fees, as well as by grants, donations, financial and material assistance from companies, local and international organizations, private citizens and other sources, which are not restricted by the Legislation of the Republic of Armenia.
All profits, products, and property of the Organization have been/shall be applied towards implementation of its goals and objectives. Accounts of the Association have been/shall be audited annually by a firm of external auditors appointed by the national governing body.

Target Population

The specific target population consists of adolescents, youth and older people of reproductive age, including marginalized populations such as indigent, refugee, displaced persons, national and other minorities. More than 10,000 individuals, including young people and their parents, women and men of reproductive age, community leaders, teachers, health providers, administrators, mass media representatives, etc. have had direct benefits from the programs of the AFHA.

Membership and Governance

The membership of the AFHA is widely based: among members of the AFHA there are people with different background, including health providers, public health administrators, pharmacists, engineers, technical workers, biologist, zoologist, agronomist, philologists, teachers, educators artists, musicians, social workers, journalists, lowers, students, workers and also people without profession. By the end of September 2004, the association had 278 members in total, from which 86% are active volunteers with voting rights. The majority of the AFHA members are from the city of Yerevan and regions of Armenia. There are also active volunteers in Armenian Diasporas in US and Europe.The membership of the AFHA is widely based and is in one of the following two categories:
a) Full Members: any person shall be eligible for full membership provided that he/she is at least 18 years old, accepts provisions of the AFHA Constitution and the amendments therein made from time to time, pays the subscription and membership fees, and provides his/her voluntary contribution towards achievement of the aims and objectives of the Organization.
b) Associate Members: any person shall be eligible for associate membership provided that he/she is at least 18 years old, accepts provisions of the AFHA Constitution and amendments therein made from time to time, and within the limits of his/her abilities, provides his/her voluntary contribution towards achievement of the aims and objectives of the Organization, e.g. through advocacy, lobbing, making donation, or provision of in kind contribution, or as an employee, paid consultant, social worker, etc.
The Supreme Governing and Policy Making body of the AFHA is the General Assembly of the organization, which is constituted of members of the National Executive Board and delegates of the branches. The Governing Body has responsibility for Advocacy, Resource Mobilization, Stewardship, Strategic Planning, Policy Setting, and Appointing a Chief Executive.

Youth Forum

In 1999, as a result of the AFHA programmatic activities, the “Youth Forum” was established as an informal branch of the AFHA, which includes more than 300 young peer-educators trained by the AFHA. Some of them became active members of the AFHA and are involved in advocacy, resource mobilization, stewardship, strategic planning, and policy setting activities in the area of reproductive health and rights of youth.

Problem Statement and Strategy:

The AFHA is intended to address the problem of insufficient public awareness on sexual and reproductive health and right related issues, the lack of public access to preventive and curative reproductive health care and the low quality of services.
During implementation of its population-related projects the AFHA works in partnership with the Government, UN agencies, international organizations, local NGOs and private companies.
The Strategic Goals and Objectives of the Organization for 2004-2008 are consistent with the IPPF Strategic Framework and are as follows:

1. Adolescents/Young People
All adolescents and young people are aware of their sexual and reproductive rights, are empowered to make informed choices and decisions regarding their sexual and reproductive health, and are able to act on them.

2. HIV/AIDS
Reduction in the incidence of HIV/AIDS in Armenia and the full protection of the rights of people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

3. Abortion
The incidence of abortion in Armenia is reduced; all women are aware about means of unwanted pregnancy prevention and consequences of unsafe abortion, and have an access to post-abortion counseling and care.

4. Access
All people in Armenia, including the poor, marginalized, the socially-excluded and underserved are able to exercise their rights to make free and informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health, and have access to related information, education and high quality services.

5. Advocacy
Strong public, political and financial commitment to and support for sexual and reproductive health and rights in Armenia.

Clients Friendly Approach
The Association promotes and adheres to IPPF’s “Rights of the Client” so that every client has the right to: information; access; choice; safety; privacy; confidentiality; dignity; comfort; continuity and opinion.
With support of the IPPF-EN and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation the AFHA contributed to institutional development of 8 Clinics, providing clients-friendly sexual and reproductive health services, including:

The Association promote and adhere to IPPF’s “Rights of the Client” so that every client has the right to: information; access; choice; safety; privacy; confidentiality; dignity; comfort; continuity and opinion.

With support of the IPPF-EN and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation the AFHA contributed to institutional development of 8 Clinics, providing clients-friendly sexual and reproductive health services, including:

· “Youth Vernissage” Health Center in the City of Yerevan
· “St. Mary’s Clinic” Integrated Reproductive Health Service in the City of Yerevan
· “Healthy Generation” Child and Adolescent Health Service in the City of Yerevan
· “Shengavith” Integrated Reproductive Health Service in the City of Yerevan
· “Vagarshapat” Adolescent Health Service in the City of Vagarshapat, Armavir Region
· “Reproductive Health Service” at the Policlinic of Hrazdan, Kotayk Region
· “Reproductive Health Service” at the Rural Ambulatory Clinic of Avshar, Ararat Region
· “Reproductive Health Service” at the Rural Ambulatory Clinic of Ddmashen, Gegarkunik Region
 

Programmatic Development

List of implemented projects:

List of on-going projects:

Our publications:

• "Let's Talk about Sex and Sexual Health": Book for Adolescents (in Armenian and Russian) - 1996

• "Reproductive Health in Armenia": Results of the Nation-wide Reproductive Health Survey - 1998

• Calendars on Human Reproductive Rights (2000-2004)

• "Adolescent's Health Protection is a Problem of High Priority in Armenia" Results of the Needs Assessment Survey and Case Studies - 2002

• "Let's Talk about THIS": Series of Video Films - 2003

• "Behind the Closed Doors" Monthly Newspaper - 2002-2003

• "Sexual Health ABC": Book for Adolescents - 1999

• "1000+1 Question About Sexual Health": Book - 2000-2002

• "Namakani" (Collection of letters) - 2002

• Leaflets on sexual and reproductive health issues (43 names) - 2000-2002

• ''Armenian Children Speak out on AIDS'': Album of posters made by children - 2002

• Posters on Abortion, Family Planning, HIV/AIDS, Youth Friendly Services, Sexual and Reproductive Rights - 1997-2004

• "Behind the Closed Doors" Monthly Magazine - 2004

Mailing address:

“FOR FAMILY AND HEALTH”
ARMENIAN ASSOCIATION
N 14/1 Vardanants Street,
Yerevan, 375010,
Republic of Armenia
Tel.: (3741) 54-08-14, 54-08-15
Fax: (3741) 54-08-16
E-mail: armfha@netsys.am, armfha@armfha.com
URL: http://www.armfha.com