Gains being eroded

AS the Caribbean Family Planning Affiliation (CFPA) marks its 41st year in existence, President Allen Bierzynski has lamented that some countries continue to trample on the advances made by the organisation.

Making remarks at the opening ceremony at the Hilton Barbados on Saturday night, he outlined that the newly crafted vision for the CFPA stated: “We envision a world where all people, even in the smallest islands of the Caribbean, have access to non-discriminatory, high quality sexual and reproductive health services, and have the power to make their own informed decisions about their bodies and their health, as well as assert their sexual and reproductive health rights.”

Volunteer challenges

Bierzynski therefore stressed that it was ironic that at the highest level in the region – CARICOM – in some of the largest islands, “there were policymakers at all levels who assiduously work to defeat the advances that we have made”.

In addition, he raised concerns about the low numbers of youth involved with the organisation and within the regional outfits.

“Several of us are getting long in the tooth, and so we need to get our young people involved and perhaps learn from what we have done and chart their own course as we go forward,” he stressed.

Bierzynski admitted that challenges for volunteers were increasing, but encouraged such individuals to keep the faith.

“We will make certain that the volunteerism does not die and working together and making sure that we meet the standards of governance that are required internationally,” he added. (JMB)