Our Commitment to Sexual and Reproductive Health in Emergencies

At the Family Planning Association of Trinidad and Tobago (FPATT), we recognize that emergencies and crises, whether natural disasters, health emergencies, or humanitarian conflicts, pose significant challenges to maintaining access to essential sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services.

In times of vulnerability, it is crucial that individuals’ sexual and reproductive health rights are upheld, ensuring their well-being and dignity are preserved regardless of circumstances.

What We Do

Our mission is to ensure the continuity and accessibility of comprehensive SRH services during emergencies. We aim to protect the sexual and reproductive rights of all individuals, especially the most vulnerable and marginalized populations, by implementing strategic interventions that bolster resilience and responsiveness in times of crisis.

This includes:

• Maintaining Essential Services: Ensuring uninterrupted access to family planning, maternal health, safe abortion, STI prevention and treatment, and post-violence care services.
• Community Engagement & Outreach: Raising awareness and educating communities about their sexual and reproductive rights and available services during emergencies.
• Capacity Building: Training healthcare providers and emergency responders on integrated SRH services aligned with emergency response protocols. Partnership & Coordination: Collaborating with government agencies, NGOs, and international partners to strengthen preparedness and response efforts.
• How We Will Achieve Our Goals
• To effectively uphold SRH rights during emergencies, FPATT is committed to integrating strategic, evidence-based approaches into our work:
• Strengthening Resilience of SRHR Services: We will enhance the capacity of healthcare facilities and providers to deliver vital sexual and reproductive health services during crises, ensuring they are equipped with the necessary resources, supplies, and training.
• Implementing the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP): We will adopt and adapt the MISP for sexual and reproductive health, a set of prioritized activities designed for emergency contexts. This includes establishing protocols for preventing and managing sexual and reproductive health issues, such as obstetric emergencies, STI control, and gender-based violence response.
• Integrating Emergency Preparedness and Response Strategies: Our programs will incorporate comprehensive disaster preparedness plans, ensuring that SRH services are embedded within national and local emergency response frameworks.
• Fostering Access for Vulnerable Populations: Special attention will be given to marginalized groups, including women, adolescents, persons with disabilities, and those in rural or underserved communities, ensuring equitable access to sexual and reproductive health services before, during, and after emergencies.
• Advocacy and Policy Development: We will advocate for policies that prioritize SRH in emergency planning and response, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding sexual and reproductive health rights as a fundamental component of humanitarian assistance.

Why It Matters

Ensuring continuity of SRH services during emergencies is not just a health issue, it is a matter of human rights, dignity, and resilience. By strengthening our preparedness and response strategies, we can mitigate the adverse effects of crises on sexual and reproductive health, reduce preventable morbidity and mortality, and empower individuals to make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive lives, no matter the circumstances.

Join Us

Together, we can build a resilient and inclusive sexual and reproductive health system that withstands crises and safeguards the rights and well-being of every Trinidad and Tobago citizen. Our commitment is to ensure that in times of emergency, no one is left behind when it comes to their sexual and reproductive health needs.