Family Health International
Encyclopedia
Family Health International (FHI) is a public health
and development organization dedicated to improving living standards of the world's most vulnerable people. Family Health International has 2,500 staff conducting research and implementing programs in fifty-five countries. Family Health International endeavors to advanced public health initiatives and to improve local capacity to address development problems. Since 1971, Family Health International has been a global leader in family planning
and reproductive health
; After 1986, Family Health International became a leader in the worldwide response to HIV/AIDS. FHI's research and programs also address malaria
, tuberculosis
, and other infectious and chronic diseases and international agencies, governments, foundations, research institutions, and individual donors. FHI partners include the United States of America.
in 1971. An initial grant from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) helped establish the International Fertility Research Program (IFRP), which became an independent, nonprofit organization in 1975. In 1982 IFRP changed its name to Family Health International. Since then Family Health International work expanded beyond family planning into other areas of reproductive health research and technical assistance. FHI investigated and implemented effective ways to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and enhance the quality of reproductive health services. In 1986, FHI began working on early strategies to prevent HIV infectionand in 1987 FHI was awarded USAID's first five-year HIV/AIDS prevention program in developing countries. Continuous funding since then – from USAID, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and others – enabled FHI to manage some of the largest HIV/AIDS programs in the world. US Government agencies, principally USAID, the National Institutes of Health
, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, remain important funding sources. Other major sponsors of HIV/AIDS programs, as well as other health and development areas, include the United Kingdom's
Department for International Development
(DFID), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Increasingly, other governments, private foundations, and the private sector are partnering with FHI to overcome the health and development challenges. In 2010, Family Health International rebranded itself with the new tagline, “The science of improving lives,” highlighting FHI's commitment to empirical science empowering the world’s most vulnerable people. The name was also simplified to FHI, reflecting a broadened scope that encompasses health and development as well as service to families, communities, and nations.
which provided an important breakthrough in the fight against HIV and genital herpes with a vaginal gel that significantly reduces a woman’s risk of infection.
FHI works with national governments and local communities to strengthen broader health systems and create lasting improvements in the lives of individuals and families.
, North Carolina
, Family Health International maintains field offices in thirty-two countries, including management centers in Bangkok, Thailand; Nairobi, Kenya; and Washington, DC. FHI has worked in over 100 countries since 1971 and is currently engaged in activities in fifty-five countries.
struck near Port-au-Prince
, the base of operations of FHI’s work in Haiti
. Several family members of FHI staff were killed. In response to the great need for humanitarian effort, FHI established a “Fund for Haiti Relief," working with the country office in Haiti and a network of local partners throughout Haiti.
, was named a member of the CSIS Commission on Smart Global Health Policy in 2009. The Commission brings together twenty-six prominent leaders from the private sector, the United States Congress
, academia, media, and the security, foreign policy, and global health communities to set goals and priorities for US global health efforts over the next decade and beyond.
The Commission released its final report, A Healthier, Safer, and More Prosperous World, in March 2010.
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
and development organization dedicated to improving living standards of the world's most vulnerable people. Family Health International has 2,500 staff conducting research and implementing programs in fifty-five countries. Family Health International endeavors to advanced public health initiatives and to improve local capacity to address development problems. Since 1971, Family Health International has been a global leader in family planning
Family planning
Family planning is the planning of when to have children, and the use of birth control and other techniques to implement such plans. Other techniques commonly used include sexuality education, prevention and management of sexually transmitted infections, pre-conception counseling and...
and reproductive health
Reproductive medicine
Reproductive medicine is a branch of medicine that deals with prevention, diagnosis and management of reproductive problems; goals include improving or maintaining reproductive health and allowing people to have children at a time of their choosing...
; After 1986, Family Health International became a leader in the worldwide response to HIV/AIDS. FHI's research and programs also address malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
, tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
, and other infectious and chronic diseases and international agencies, governments, foundations, research institutions, and individual donors. FHI partners include the United States of America.
History
Family Health International grew from a contraceptive research project begun at the University of North Carolina at Chapel HillUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
in 1971. An initial grant from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) helped establish the International Fertility Research Program (IFRP), which became an independent, nonprofit organization in 1975. In 1982 IFRP changed its name to Family Health International. Since then Family Health International work expanded beyond family planning into other areas of reproductive health research and technical assistance. FHI investigated and implemented effective ways to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and enhance the quality of reproductive health services. In 1986, FHI began working on early strategies to prevent HIV infectionand in 1987 FHI was awarded USAID's first five-year HIV/AIDS prevention program in developing countries. Continuous funding since then – from USAID, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and others – enabled FHI to manage some of the largest HIV/AIDS programs in the world. US Government agencies, principally USAID, the National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, remain important funding sources. Other major sponsors of HIV/AIDS programs, as well as other health and development areas, include the United Kingdom's
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Department for International Development
Department for International Development
The Department For International Development is a United Kingdom government department with a Cabinet Minister in charge. It was separated from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1997. The goal of the department is "to promote sustainable development and eliminate world poverty". The current...
(DFID), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Increasingly, other governments, private foundations, and the private sector are partnering with FHI to overcome the health and development challenges. In 2010, Family Health International rebranded itself with the new tagline, “The science of improving lives,” highlighting FHI's commitment to empirical science empowering the world’s most vulnerable people. The name was also simplified to FHI, reflecting a broadened scope that encompasses health and development as well as service to families, communities, and nations.
CAPRISA 004
FHI contributed to a clinical trial called CAPRISA 004CAPRISA 004
CAPRISA 004 is the name of a clinical trial conducted by CAPRISA. This particular study was the first to show that a topical gel could reduce a person's risk of contracting HIV. The gel used in the study contained a microbicide.-Background:...
which provided an important breakthrough in the fight against HIV and genital herpes with a vaginal gel that significantly reduces a woman’s risk of infection.
Areas of focus
Areas of focus include:- Family planning
- Child and maternal health
- Infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis
- Chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease
- Nutrition
FHI works with national governments and local communities to strengthen broader health systems and create lasting improvements in the lives of individuals and families.
Country offices
Headquartered in Research Triangle ParkResearch Triangle Park
The Research Triangle Park is a research park in the United States. It is located near Durham, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill, in the Research Triangle region of North Carolina...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, Family Health International maintains field offices in thirty-two countries, including management centers in Bangkok, Thailand; Nairobi, Kenya; and Washington, DC. FHI has worked in over 100 countries since 1971 and is currently engaged in activities in fifty-five countries.
Haiti Relief Efforts
On Tuesday, January 12, 2010, a devastating earthquake2010 Haiti earthquake
The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicentre near the town of Léogâne, approximately west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks...
struck near Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince is the capital and largest city of the Caribbean nation of Haiti. The city's population was 704,776 as of the 2003 census, and was officially estimated to have reached 897,859 in 2009....
, the base of operations of FHI’s work in Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
. Several family members of FHI staff were killed. In response to the great need for humanitarian effort, FHI established a “Fund for Haiti Relief," working with the country office in Haiti and a network of local partners throughout Haiti.
CSIS Commission on Smart Global Health Policy
Family Health International’s President for Public Health Programs, Peter LampteyPeter Lamptey
Peter Lamptey is a former Ghanaian international footballer. He was the top scorer in the Ghana league in 1973 and played most of his club football for Accra Hearts of Oak SC and Great Olympics.-Club career:...
, was named a member of the CSIS Commission on Smart Global Health Policy in 2009. The Commission brings together twenty-six prominent leaders from the private sector, the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, academia, media, and the security, foreign policy, and global health communities to set goals and priorities for US global health efforts over the next decade and beyond.
The Commission released its final report, A Healthier, Safer, and More Prosperous World, in March 2010.