In recognition of excellence in service provision, during a District Family Planning Mega Camp, MSS  Multan centre team, on 25^th March 2010 received a certificate of appreciation from the Population Welfare Department of Punjab with personal signatures of  appreciation from Federal Minister Dr.Firdos Ashiq Awan and District Population Welfare Officers. Among the 500 clients served by various NGO’s, MSS provided the greatest number of permanent and long-term Family Planning services.

Marie Stopes Society’ Social Franchising model ‘SURAJ’ secured number one position in the Marie Stopes International (MSI) Clinical Social Franchising Compendium 2009.  The Pakistan Programme came first beating Kenya, Ethiopia, Ghana, Madagascar, Malawi, Philippines, Sierra Leone and Vietnam. The rankings were given by the MSI Social Franchising team based on specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), the most important being the number of Couple Years of Protection (CYP) generated. We applaud the Suraj team and hope that they continue to make Marie Stopes proud in all future endeavours.   

MSS has come up with yet another exciting initiative- a radio program at FM 100 starting from April 7, 2010. Stay tuned to the show every Wednesday at 4:30 pm. The show will be aired on a weekly basis for 3 months.

Marie Stopes Society hosted a National consultation “Have Our Communications Created Confusion?” on 25^th March 2010 at a local hotel in Karachi. Several high profile guests from the media, advertising agencies, government and other NGOs participated in the consultation.

 

The event generated a lot of heated debate and discussion which proved that the event was a highly successful one! The significant outcome of the consultation was the commitment from the Family Planning Association of Pakistan (FPAP), USAID (through its grantees) and the Packard Foundation to take the agenda forward and continue the discussions in order to develop communications that are evidence based; needs based; collaborative and effective.  It was also envisioned that a core group be developed to undertake a focused review of what needs to be done and develop a plan of action accordingly.

We hope to have another Communications Consultation, this time in Lahore or another city in Pakistan to include other partners and voices!

Peggy Walters, Head of Communication in the External Relations Team at Marie Stopes International (MSI), visited Karachi from March 8-12, 2010. Her role at MSI is to develop and implement MSI corporate communications strategy which includes branding, marketing and media relations. She shared her expertise and MSI’s role and coordination with partners.

 

The main objectives of her visit were to get an insight of MSS programs including the National Expansion Project (NEP), the Private Provider Partnership-‘Suraj’ and CBD interventions; as well as visit the existing centres, NEP centres and CBD intervention areas and to review MSS communications, branding and marketing activities.

 

She also visited the Jamshoro centre and met the Centre team. We look forward to more visits from the MSI team!

 

 

 

Marie Stopes Society and its 88 Behtar Zindagi Centres commemorated “International Women’s Day 2010” on March 8, 2010. Several exciting activities were introduced that included free Camp activities at the centres including free consultation, counselling services and pregnancy testing. Stalls that provided free henna application and bangles for the women attending the Centre were set outside the MSS Behtar Zindagi centres in all 88 locations.

 

A full day branded transmission on Radio FM 100 across Pakistan including a road show at the PECHS centre and a talk show on RH and FP (guests: Dr. Laila Shah, Dr. Sikander Sohani and Ms. Sheema Kirmani) was also aired on the day.

 

MSS also participated in an event organized by the Women Development Department at the Arts Council Karachi on the day. Many Organizations and NGOs participated in this mega event. The Marie Stopes Marketing team and the PECHS Centre set up a stall for the event and provided blood pressure and weight check, Reproductive Health Counseling and a question & answer session on Reproductive Health and Family Planning.

In February 2010, MSS received visitors Ms. Sara Tifft and Mr. Todd Dickens from PATH, a Seattle based international non-profit organization that creates sustainable, culturally relevant solutions, enabling communities worldwide to break longstanding cycles of poor health. MSS is PATHs in-country implementing partner for the introduction of depo-subQ in Uniject, (contraceptive in a syringe) in Pakistan. The Uniject delivery system is a small, autodisable injection device that is prefilled with the precise dosage of depo-subQ required for three months of contraceptive protection. Introduction of depo-subQ in Uniject provides opportunities to both strengthen clinic injection services and extend injectable contraceptive delivery safely and effectively beyond the clinic.

 

Mr. Todd Dickens, Procurement Officer, PATH and Ms. Sara Tiffts, Senior Program Officer, Reproductive Health Global Program, PATH, visited the MSS clinics in PECHS and Jamshoro-Kotri. They met with the field teams to understand the MSS program and the CBD agents to learn about their clients' contraceptive preferences, experiences with injectables, and perspectives on depo-subQ in Uniject. One of the CBD agents and her supervisor also accompanied Ms. Tifft to visit the homes of four clients who receive doorstep services.

 

The PATH team also met with many stakeholders during their ten days in Pakistan and introduced MSS Pakistan as PATH's lead partner to implement their work going forward. We look forward to more visits from PATH in the near future!

Dr. Mohsina Bilgrami, Managing Director, Marie Stopes Society (MSS) has been invited by the Ministry of Health, Pakistan to be part of a Task Force titled Healthy Timing and Spacing of Pregnancies (HTSP) comprising national experts, to develop a national strategy of how birth spacing services may be provided via the  Health infrastructure.  

It is envisaged that the development of such a strategy will greatly contribute towards achieving Pakistan’s national health targets and the attainment of Millennium Development Goals. 

Other core members of this task force include Dr. Farrukh Lodhi, National Programme for Family Planning and Primary Health Care, Dr. Zia Dawar, National Programme for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, Dr. Farah Sabih, WHO, Dr. Adnan A. Khan, Ministry of Health/Research and Development Solutions, Dr. Mohammad Isa, USAID and Dr. Mobashar Malik, UNFPA.

Dr. Mohsina Bilgrami, Managing Director, Marie Stopes Society (MSS) has been invited by WHO to a Technical Consultation Meeting on the Guidelines for Safe Abortion in Geneva this April.

 

Over the past 25 years, WHO/HRP has been providing technical support to countries wishing to reduce unsafe abortion-related morbidity and mortality through strengthening policies, programmes and services. It has become evident that countries would benefit from WHO guidelines on the clinical aspects of the provision of comprehensive post abortion care.

 

The Technical Consultation will bring together international experts, including clinicians and epidemiologists; policy-makers; programme and legal experts; experts in evidence identification and synthesis; representatives of many organizations and agencies who work in the field; representatives from WHO regional offices, and the WHO Secretariat.

 

The Technical Consultation will help in updating the technical and policy document that was published by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2003, so that policy makers, programme managers, service providers and others interested can benefit from the most recent and evidence-based guidance to Post Abortion Care.

The European Society on Contraception and Reproductive Health had a Free Communication and Poster abstracts competition in September 2009. Dr. Khurram Azmat, Head of the Research and Metrics led his team to win the Joint Second Place for the poster submission.Thumbs up to the MSS Research and Metrics team!

MSS participated in the seminar organised by Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy on December 10, 2009 at the Serena Hotel, Islamabad. Senior government officials, diplomats, representatives of donor agencies, NGOs and social development organizations participated in the seminar. MSS promoted its services amongst the potential donors and distributed its informational material and giveaways amongst the participants. 

Ms Shahnaz Wazir Ali, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Pakistan and Ms. Anjum Haque, PCP Executive Director visited MSS stall and appreciated the contribution of MSS in providing quality FP and RH services. 

An abstract for the FIGO conference has been published in the INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GYNECOLOGY AND OBSTETRICS.

For more details please click here.

We are extremely proud to announce that our very own Dr. Mohsina Bilgrami was nominated by the Prime Minister of Pakistan as a member of the Board of Director (BoD) of the governing body of the National Trust for Population Welfare (NATPOW).

 

Dr. Bilgrami’s nomination as a Board member for NATPOW is an acknowledgment of her rich experience, dedication and visionary leadership qualities.

Katie Tong – Senior Programme Support Manager for Asia, Middle East and Eastern Europe and Mia Hessel, Programme Support Manager for Asia, Middle East and Eastern Europe for MSI visited Pakistan from the 15th to the 24th of July to understand the Pakistan Programme and to extend their assistance to MSS. Apart from having several individual meetings with MSS staff, they visited the NEP centre at Orangi, MSU camp at Hyderabad and met with representatives of the Willows Foundation. We hope that such exchanges continue to take place between MSI and MSS as they strengthen the partnership and allow for greater understanding between the two partners.

Dhaval Patel, Director, Global Health Systems visited MSS from the 23rd to the 24th of July, 2009, to review the dashboard progress, guide future steps and demonstrate how the dashboard can be used for decision making.

Donna Espeut, Regional Researcher, Asia and Africa visited MSS from the 21st to the 24th of July, 2009 to get oriented with the research and metrics activities, to visit the CBD center and to assess areas where her support can be required.

MSS’ Behtar Zindagi new service brand – taken from the Marie Stopes International Blue door logo - is being launched on 9th July 2009 in conjunction with the international World Population Day (11th July).

MSS’ Behtar Zindagi new brand denotes Marie Stopes Society’s high quality services, accessibility and unwavering focus on its clients’ needs.

Behtar Zindagi Centers aap se dor nahein – Behtar Zindagi mein pehla qadam…..

The Health Cluster is a group of NGOs working together to help the Internally Displaced People of Swat in NWFP. Health Cluster meeting are held every week at the Director General Health NWFP office in Peshawar. Nosheen Sahibzada, the Regional Manager Operations NWFP has become part of the Health Cluster meetings and has set up medical camps in the areas providing medicines and services to the IDPs. Other participants of the meetings include the Secretary Health, Director General Health, Executive District Officers of Peshawar, Swabi, Malakanad, Nowshehra, District Population Welfare Officer of Charsada and representatives of the Health Department, UNICEF, Save the Children, Myrlyn, CURT (local NGO) and the Frontier Foundation.

NEP Regional Office for Upper Punjab (Lahore Region) has moved to the address below. Please make sure all communications and correspondences are made the on the new address

Regional office: Marie Stopes Society
9-B, (BOR)
Punjab Board of Revenue cooperative
Housing Society,
Near Johar Shadi Hall
Lahore.
Phone # 042-5174471
Fax # 042-5174481

MSS highly appreciates PWD Secretary, Mr. Siddiq Memon's personal interest and efforts in interacting with partners to identify potential areas of collaboration in order for all to be more effective in their respective endeavors to serve their clients better. MSS has been part of a series of meetings for collaboration on Call centre, Mobile Service Units, Communication strategies etc.

The OMV team visited MSS Support office on 12th June 2009 to learn of the MSS’ 24/7 (0800 22 333) call centre facility and the MSS Client Informational Management system with reference to the Public Private Partnership MCH initiative in Salehphat (Sind).

Aahung – a long time partner of MSS – facilitated a two day training course for “SRH” of MSS support teams to create awareness and understanding of Sexual and Reproductive health and rights and how this links with the work MSS undertakes.. Aahung was most effective in communicating with the teams in highly interactive sessions – that were appreciated by all participants.  Thank you!

It was a pleasure for the MSS team to welcome Michael Holscher, Head of External Relations and New Business Development to Marie Stopes Society (Pakistan) in May. Michael Holscher met with many donor country representatives, government officials and MSS partners. Michael also went on a full day field visit to learn how the Voucher, Community Based Distribution and Private Provider Partnership initiatives were being implemented in the field.

A workshop was held at MSS from the 19th to the 22nd of May 2009 for teams from MSI Cambodia and UK on the MSS programme’s Client Information and Management System.

A four day interactive training session was arranged for MSS teams on the MSS brand, Behavior Change Communication, Integrated Brand Communication (IBC) and how to incorporate MSS values in their work. The trainers included Ms. Rahal Saeed, a US-certified SRH counseling expert, Ms. Fauzia Kerai Khan who has her own independent consulting firm, I&B Consulting, Shadab Fariduddin, founder-director of the Four Corners Group Private Limited, Shoaib Siddiqi, co-founder of Four Corners Group, Dr Shahzad Amin, expert on standard operating procedures for event management and Mr. Adil Jadoon.

Congratulations!!! A successful launch of the new MSS Orangi Town Center was held on the 2nd of February 2009.

Orangi Main Center
Plot No. 4, Sector 1D,
Opposite Tameer Bank

Orangi Town, Karachi.
Phone: 021-6693727
021- 6657183

MSS’ second Guest Speaker Session was held on 28th January 2009 at the Support Office. Dr. Khalid Zaheer, a renowned religious scholar was invited to deliver a brief lecture on Islam, the rights of women and family planning. Mr. Khalid Zaheer shared interpretations of Quranic verses that condoned contraception. He stressed that having children by choice and not chance provides children with better opportunities in life and brings about a positive change in society. The end of the lecture was marked by an exciting QA session and exchange of ideas.

Dr. Khalid Zaheer (1958) is currently serving as Vice President of Al-Mawrid Institute of Islamic Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan. He has taught at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), and the University of the Punjab. Dr. Khalid maintains his personal website.
www.khalidzaaheer.com.

Marie Stopes Society participated in The Citizens Foundation’s annual walk, iLMaTHON on the 8th of February, 2009. The objective was to establish MSS’ corporate identity and promote its website www.SRHMatters.org and the Toll Free number.

The MSS Communications and Marketing Team setup a stall and the following activities were carried out:

   a) Distribution of MSS brochures and IEC material
   b) Quiz activity
   c) MSS Television commercials and documentary on multimedia
   d) SRHmatters branded gifts and giveaways (badges, mugs and      mouse pads) were distributed.

TCF claims 10, 000 people participated at the event!

MSS held its Strategic Planning meeting on the 5th and 6th of February 2009. Senior Management took part in the two day brain storming exercise which concluded with some very positive results. Other MSS members were invited on the last day where they were briefed on the outcome of the Strategic Planning meeting.

MSS successfully launched its bi-lingual, interactive and educational website on the 1st of February, 2009. The website provides information on Sexual and Reproductive Health matters and hosts a confidential online support service www.srhmatters.org

We are proud to announce opening of NEP MSU office Quetta on 4th December 2008

Regional Office Address: Regional Office Quetta
Address:
61-D, Samungli HousingScheme,
Samungli Road Quetta
Ph#: O81-2844346 - 081-2821776
Fax#:081-2821890.

 

NEP Regional Office Peshawar started functioning from 11th December 2008.

Regional Office Address: NEP Regional Office Peshawar
Address:
H # 28, Street no 2
Near Golf Club
Shami road Peshawar

Dana Hovig, Chief Executive of Marie Stopes International recently visited Pakistan, from 12-3-08 to 12-5-08 in spite of the law and order situation in Karachi and political unrest. Dana held meetings with MSS Managing Director Dr. Mohsina Bilgrami and her team.

The three day visit included a day long field trip to Thatta where Dana visited the centre teams, the Community Based Distribution workers and the Private Provider Partners. Engagement with the print and electronic media was also made possible through a live programme “Breakfast with Dawn”, a recording for an ARY regular programme ‘Black coffee’ and an exchange of views with a core group of activists/writers that was enriching for all present.

Dana appreciated MSS as being one of the leaders in the MSI Global Partnership in key areas, including programmatic innovation, systems strengthening and overall strengthening of capacity.
He identified excellent strategies for MSS to further improve its services and reinforced and motivated the MSS team to fulfill the global MSI vision to be the biggest, best and sustainable.

We are happy to announce that Mr. Mehmood Bhatti and Dr. Ghazala Durrani’s articles have been printed in MSI’s Opendoor Magazine.

Mr. Bhatti from Marie Stopes Pakistan and Tracey Brett from the Procurement and Logistics Department at the London Support Office have won a Kodak Easyshare C713 Zoom Digital Camera for their article. Many congratulations to both of them!

With immense pleasure CSM Pakistan, announces the launch of its new product “XTACY MAX” on 1st December 2008. Xtacy Max is an imported premium featured studded and delayed condom. They are exclusively designed to explore an ecstatic experience of ultimate satisfaction for both partners.

Thanks to the CSM team, for all their efforts, hard work and dedication for this achievement.

MSS network is rapidly spreading, a 15 day orientation was held at Hotel Mehran, from 12th-27th November 2008, for NWFP/Baluchistan regional teams. The objective of this training was a) to provide complete and comprehensive knowledge about MSS and b) to familiarize all participants with MSS policies and procedures.

Marie Stopes Society Pakistan (MSS) is proud to announce that it has been awarded the “Infection Prevention Excellency Award” - a matter of great honor and achievement for MSS.

The award was granted after a rigorous process of assessment that involved peer reviews of the standards of infection prevention using the MDT Quality Technical Assistance (QTA) checklist. The Australia programme conducted the technical audit for the Pakistan programme.

The Goals and Objectives of Infection Prevention IP are to keep the client and the environment safe through a series of procedures that decreases the chance of infection.
The IP award has been achieved due to the strict vigilance of the MSS team, high standards of service quality and its strict adherence to infection prevention protocols as set by MSI.

This is indeed another milestone in the growing list of MSS achievements!

www.srhmatters.org, MSS has launched a bi-lingual website on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) for the youth. The website provides online counseling, information and referrals on SRH matters through youth-friendly health professionals. The Urdu website will be launched in January 2009.

A delegation from UNFPA visited the MSS Support Office on Monday, 20th October. This small group of youth aged between 20 and 25 came from different areas of Sindh, namely Karachi, Jacobabad, Thatta, Mirpurkhas and Matiari.

The goal of these youngsters is to improve the quality of life of young people by raising awareness about Sexual and Reproductive Health rights of young people and represent the Youth parliament of Sindh.

The youth were very eager and excited to learn about MSS activities, they were given a short brief on MSS, and the services that MSS provides. This was followed by a question/answer session where lots of questions were raised! They were then taken to the PECHS centre to see where MSS services are offered.

MSS hopes to entertain such groups in the future as well.

MSS has initiated Guest Speaker Sessions for its team to engage in discussions on issues ranging from SRHR issues to Branding, Research and Smart Business solutions.

Our first session was held on the 30th of September, 2008 at the Support Office. Mr. Shoaib Siddiqui was our first guest speaker and spoke on Branding for a Non-Profit Organization. Mr. Siddiqui is a consultant and marketer at the Four Corners Group (4CG), a company that provides practical solutions to local and international clients.

Mr. Siddiqui talked about Branding and how the brand is the most important asset for a Non- Profit Organization as it creates trust, builds recognition and converts into loyalty and a long-term relationship with clients. Another interesting point raised was that NPOs do not need to spend on marketing, as their teams are brand ambassadors who exhibit the values of the organization.

click here to view the Presentation.

MSS has successfully achieved certification status by the Pakistan Center for Philanthropy for meeting high standards on internal governance, financial management and program delivery.

The MSS Mobile Service Unit (MSU) began operations in 2007 by providing reproductive health services to the sparsely and scattered populated rural areas of Pakistan. Currently four MSUs are operational in Khairpur, Peshawar and Multan and four additional MSU’s will be introduced in 2009. Since establishment, the MSUs have served 4137 men and women with Reproductive Health services.

In keeping with MSS principles and approach, the MSUs work in close coordination and complete involvement of the local government and the communities it serves.

Marie Stopes Society has embarked on an expansion of its services in Pakistan. Under its National Expansion Project (2007 – 2010), the MSS geographical spread will increase to include 49 new centers in 49 districts ensuring access and utilization of high quality reproductive health services to the underserved.

These services will be supported by a large-scale, culturally appropriate behavioral change and communication (BCC) initiative to increase awareness and drive demand for services.

MSS is one of the pioneering organizations in Pakistan to offer a Toll Free Service helpline all over the country on SRH issues. Anyone with access to a telephone anywhere within Pakistan can call up the MSS toll free number for counseling and referrals.

The toll free number is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and a doctor is available to take calls from 4 p.m. to 9 a.m. daily and also available on days when MSS centres are closed.

Dr. Mohsina Bilgrami – Managing Director (Managing Director) Marie Stopes Society was awarded the Marie Stopes ‘Pioneering Spirit’ certificate for innovative contributions towards the MSI programme at the Global Partnership Retreat in March 2007. 

Whose Right? Whose Choice? Who Cares?
23 – 24 October 2007 London, Uk

The Marie Stopes Internaional ‘Global Safe Abortion Conference’ in association with IPAS and Abortion Rights, will confront both national and international issues on abortion focusing on rights, access, advocacy and funding.
This conference aims to create a forum which will build consensus and impetus around international efforts to reduce the unacceptable toll on women’s health and lives caused by unsafe abortion.

For details visit: www.globalsafeabortion.org