Linked with Christina Nsekela – Tanzania, and with Tanzania Association of NGOs TANGO. (Described on IPPF.org, International Planned Parenthood Federation).
The mission of the Association is to play a supportive role to the Government Family Planning Programme, information and service provision, and to venture into the introduction of sexual health programmes in areas considered too sensitive by the Government; instituting quality of care programmes and piloting innovative approaches to sexual and reproductive health.
Tanzania FPA operates a large community-based programme as one way of improving access to services and bridging the gap between awareness and practice. UMATI aims to improve its services by including counselling for HIV/STD and post abortion, infertility investigations and minor clinical tests, – cervical swabs and pap smear tests.
The UNHCR asked UMATI to provide family planning services for the large Rwandan refugee community. They carried out a needs assessment mission in Ngara which found that women refugees were desperately looking for FP services, due to the hazardous conditions for giving birth, and as they had become aware of the services in Rwanda. It was found that male refugees were opposed to family planning because they wanted to replace family members who had died. UMATI decided to conduct short courses in Family Planning Clinical Services to workers of NGO’s, provide contraceptives to all other NGO clinics and run a model clinic which will be referral and training centre. (Read much more on their Homepage).