FPAN passes proposal to amend its statute

Kathmandu, April 30: The special general assembly of the Family Planning Association of Nepal (FPAN) has passed a proposal to amend some points in the statute.

The meeting also discussed the future course of action of the FPAN. Presidents of 28 districts, office-bearers and members of the central working committee participated in the meeting. On the occasion, FPAN’s President Rajendra Bahadur Shrestha pointed out the need for collective efforts to make the organization self-reliant.

Executive Director of the FPAN, Dr Praveen Shakya, briefed the gathering about the various programs being run by the Association and stated a press release issued by the FPAN. Similarly, Treasurer Nirman Kumar Shrestha and member Kamala Sapkota stressed the need to run the organizations sustainably and efficiently by seeking support from donor agencies.

The organization, a pioneer in sexual and reproductive health and family planning service providers, was established in 2016 BS at the initiative and activism of senior social worker Dwarika Devi Thakurani. Presently the FPAN is providing its services to the communities in 350 municipalities and rural municipalities through its service centers in 31 districts.

It has been providing information on sexual and reproductive health and accessible and quality services, especially to disadvantaged, minority, marginalized and vulnerable communities. More than 80 percent of the service providers of the association belong to the same community. It may be noted that the Ministry of Health and Population in 2014 had decided to celebrate September 18 as National Family Planning Day every year on September 18, 1959, when the family planning program was launched in Nepal.

The FPAN has charted out a new strategic plan for the year 2023 to 2028. These include family planning, planning as well as person-centered services, initiatives in sexuality education, solidarity for change, institutional professional development and sustainability.

The main objective of the strategy is to extend the sexual and reproductive health and rights programs based on these pillars for the next five years to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals set by the government.