A Brief History of FPATT

Dr. Beric H. Wright – Founder of FPATT

The Family Planning Association of Trinidad and Tobago (FPATT) is an internationally-recognized non-governmental organization that promotes sexual and reproductive health and rights to improve the quality of life for individuals and families in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Association is the brainchild of Dr. Beric Wright, an English expatriate who worked for the Shell Company in Trinidad. Following the example of his mother, Margaret, who was an activist for sexual and reproductive rights, Dr. Wright started the first family planning clinic at Point Fortin on September 23, 1956 as a branch of the International Planned Parenthood Federation.

Many recall the Association’s early days and how it successfully overcame the initial controversy surrounding family planning and sexual and reproductive health. These long time staff members also reminisce about the early days of the outreach clinics when they went out in their own vehicles to reach remote communities with services and care. In those days, these clinics often took place in community bars in rural communities, where a pool table, surrounded by screens, served as an examination table. Others recall the struggle to change the perception of the Association as solely “a place to help women have abortions,” to a place where women, men and young people could come for integrated and comprehensive sexual and reproductive healthcare.

Despite FPATT’s controversial beginnings, it quickly became clear to many that the people of Trinidad and Tobago needed and wanted the services offered by the Association, and as a result, the organization was able to attract several well-respected medical and other professionals to the cause. At the same time, the clientele grew, as persons, especially women, came to understand the social and economic importance of planning their families and taking care of their sexual and reproductive health.

By 1962, when Trinidad and Tobago gained independence, the Association had established clinics at Port of Spain and San Fernando, and had full membership status with the International Planned Parenthood Federation. At that time, three members of the Association served on the Federation’s Governing Council, and one current FPATT board advisor Dr. Jacqueline Sharpe, has also served as President of the Federation.
Over the years, the Association has expanded and streamlined its services. For example, in addition to services like Pap smears, breast exams, and contraceptive services, there are now youth-only and men-only clinics, as well as a mobile outreach programme that reaches more remote and isolated communities across the country. FPATT has also began to provide services designed to meet the specific needs of underserved and vulnerable groups such as commercial sex workers, men who have sex with men, youth, and women in need of support and information on safe abortion. And most recently, FPATT launched its Healthlink social enterprise program, which seeks to meet the healthcare needs of the country’s most underserved.

The Association is one of the most well-respected civil society organizations in Trinidad and Tobago today, acknowledged by its peers in civil society and the government as a leader in the delivery of sexual and reproductive health services. Throughout the years, other non-governmental organizations and state agencies have looked to the Association for technical trainings in sexual and reproductive health, including training for regional health authority nurses.

FPATT seeks to consolidate and build on the gains of the past years to further improve the quality and range of services to existing clients and as well as new ones, and to put in place the requirements for long term sustainability and viability of the Association through its new Healthlink programme.