Population Services International
Encyclopedia
Population Services International is a global health
organization with programs targeting malaria
, child survival
, HIV
and reproductive health
. Working in partnership within the public
and private sector
s, and harnessing the power of the markets, PSI provides life-saving products, clinical services and behavior change communications
that empower the world's most vulnerable populations to lead healthier lives.
are in Washington, D.C.
and its European offices are in Amsterdam
.
PSI employs more than 150 U.S. staff, more than 100 overseas expatriate
staff and 8,000 local PSI affiliate staff.
Major donor
s include the governments of the United States
, United Kingdom
, Germany
and the Netherlands
; the Global Fund, United Nations
agencies, private foundation
s, corporation
s and individuals.
It is a member of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition
, a Washington D.C.-based coalition of over 400 major companies and NGOs that advocates for a larger International Affairs Budget, which funds American diplomatic and development efforts abroad.
Mali women of reproductive age have little knowledge on family planning methods and are largely unaware of the health benefits of family planning. Mali’s contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) of 6% was among the lowest worldwide and had stagnated since 2001, with the exception of the capital, Bamako, where the CPR decreased from 19% to 16% from 2001 to 2006. At least one in 25 women in Mali die from pregnancy-related causes or resulting lifelong complications. There is also limited access to long acting family planning methods.
Clinic event days were designed to promote family planning. While women waited to have their child immunised on immunisation days, the midwife and the clinic personnel give a 30-45 minute presentation on the importance of family planning as well as the various options of contraceptives available. Women were encouraged to raise concerns and the discussions helped to dispel common misconceptions. PSI also provided a subsidy for the women who chose to receive a long acting contraception method, increasing access to and affordability of family planning.
As of 31st October 2010, a total of 1,666 health talk sessions were held and 69,055 women were reached. Also, 1,396 intrauterine devices (IUD) and 14,547 contraceptive implants were inserted. The intrauterine device (IUD) provides protection from unintended pregnancies for up to 12 years and the implant for up to 5 years.
Global health
Global health is the health of populations in a global context and transcends the perspectives and concerns of individual nations. Health problems that transcend national borders or have a global political and economic impact, are often emphasized...
organization with programs targeting 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...
, child survival
Child survival
Child survival is a field of public health concerned with reducing child mortality. Child survival interventions are designed to address the most common causes of child deaths that occur, which includes diarrhea, pneumonia, malaria, and neonatal conditions...
, HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
and reproductive health
Reproductive health
Within the framework of the World Health Organization's definition of health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, reproductive health, or sexual health/hygiene, addresses the reproductive processes, functions and system...
. Working in partnership within the public
Public sector
The public sector, sometimes referred to as the state sector, is a part of the state that deals with either the production, delivery and allocation of goods and services by and for the government or its citizens, whether national, regional or local/municipal.Examples of public sector activity range...
and private sector
Private sector
In economics, the private sector is that part of the economy, sometimes referred to as the citizen sector, which is run by private individuals or groups, usually as a means of enterprise for profit, and is not controlled by the state...
s, and harnessing the power of the markets, PSI provides life-saving products, clinical services and behavior change communications
Behavior Change Communication
Behavior Change Communication is a process of any intervention with individuals, communities and/or societies to develop communication strategies to promote positive behaviors which are appropriate to their settings...
that empower the world's most vulnerable populations to lead healthier lives.
Programs
PSI has programs in over 60 countries. Its world headquartersHeadquarters
Headquarters denotes the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. In the United States, the corporate headquarters represents the entity at the center or the top of a corporation taking full responsibility managing all business activities...
are in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and its European offices are in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
.
PSI employs more than 150 U.S. staff, more than 100 overseas expatriate
Expatriate
An expatriate is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing...
staff and 8,000 local PSI affiliate staff.
Major donor
Donation
A donation is a gift given by physical or legal persons, typically for charitable purposes and/or to benefit a cause. A donation may take various forms, including cash, services, new or used goods including clothing, toys, food, and vehicles...
s include the governments of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, United Kingdom
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...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
; the Global Fund, United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
agencies, private foundation
Private foundation
A private foundation is a legal entity set up by an individual, a family or a group of individuals, for a purpose such as philanthropy. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is the largest private foundation in the U.S. with over $38 billion in assets...
s, corporation
Corporation
A corporation is created under the laws of a state as a separate legal entity that has privileges and liabilities that are distinct from those of its members. There are many different forms of corporations, most of which are used to conduct business. Early corporations were established by charter...
s and individuals.
It is a member of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition
U.S. Global Leadership Coalition
The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, also known as the USGLC, is a influential, broad-based organization formed by a coalition of 400 American businesses and NGOs, senior national security and foreign policy experts, and diverse range of community leaders from across the country who promote...
, a Washington D.C.-based coalition of over 400 major companies and NGOs that advocates for a larger International Affairs Budget, which funds American diplomatic and development efforts abroad.
SALIN Project in Mali
With support from the Dutch Government under the Strategic Alliance with International Non-Governmental Organisations (SALIN), Population Services International(PSI) undertook a 30 month project, from July 2008, aimed at meeting post-partum family planning needs, increasing contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) and decreasing maternal mortality rate (MMR) in Mali. This was in line with Millennium Development Goal 5. Family planning can help time and space pregnancies or prevent unwanted pregnancies, hence reduce maternal mortality.Mali women of reproductive age have little knowledge on family planning methods and are largely unaware of the health benefits of family planning. Mali’s contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) of 6% was among the lowest worldwide and had stagnated since 2001, with the exception of the capital, Bamako, where the CPR decreased from 19% to 16% from 2001 to 2006. At least one in 25 women in Mali die from pregnancy-related causes or resulting lifelong complications. There is also limited access to long acting family planning methods.
Clinic event days were designed to promote family planning. While women waited to have their child immunised on immunisation days, the midwife and the clinic personnel give a 30-45 minute presentation on the importance of family planning as well as the various options of contraceptives available. Women were encouraged to raise concerns and the discussions helped to dispel common misconceptions. PSI also provided a subsidy for the women who chose to receive a long acting contraception method, increasing access to and affordability of family planning.
As of 31st October 2010, a total of 1,666 health talk sessions were held and 69,055 women were reached. Also, 1,396 intrauterine devices (IUD) and 14,547 contraceptive implants were inserted. The intrauterine device (IUD) provides protection from unintended pregnancies for up to 12 years and the implant for up to 5 years.
Board of directors
The board of directors includes- Frank LoyFrank E. LoyFrank E. Loy is an American diplomat, business and nonprofit executive, and attorney. He is best known for serving as United States Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs from November 2, 1998 to January 20, 2001, under President Bill Clinton...
: Chair, Former Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs, U.S. Department of StateUnited States Department of StateThe United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
- Washington, DC - Rehana Ahmed: PhysicianPhysicianA physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
- NairobiNairobiNairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, KenyaKenyaKenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east... - Frank CarlucciFrank CarlucciFrank Charles Carlucci III is a former official in the United States Government, associated with the Republican Party. The most prominent office held by Carlucci was as Secretary of Defense from 1987 until 1989 in the Reagan Administration.-Early life and career:Carlucci was born in Scranton,...
: Chairman Emeritus The Carlyle Group - Washington, DC - Sarah G. Epstein: Population Consultant - Washington, DC
- Shima Gyoh: Chairman, Nigerian Medical and Dental Council -Nkar, Benue StateBenue StateBenue is a state in the Middle-Belt region of Nigeria with a population of about 2.8 million in 1991. Tiv, Idoma, and Igede are spoken predominantly. There are other ethnic groups as well. These include Etulo and Abakwa...
, NigeriaNigeriaNigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in... - Gail McGreevy Harmon: Partner, Harmon, Curran, Spielberg & Eisenberg, LLP - Washington, DC
- William C. HarropWilliam Caldwell HarropWilliam Caldwell Harrop served as US Ambassador to Guinea , Kenya , Seychelles and Israel ....
: Former U.S. Ambassador to GuineaGuineaGuinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
, IsraelIsraelThe State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, KenyaKenyaKenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
and ZaireZaireThe Republic of Zaire was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between 27 October 1971 and 17 May 1997. The name of Zaire derives from the , itself an adaptation of the Kongo word nzere or nzadi, or "the river that swallows all rivers".-Self-proclaimed Father of the Nation:In...
and Inspector General of the U.S. Department of State and the Foreign Service - Washington, DC - Judith Richards HopeJudith Richards HopeJudith Richards Hope is a lawyer, law professor, and corporate director. She is currently a visiting law professor at Georgetown University in addition to being the president and CEO of an international consulting firm called Hope & Company, P.C...
: Professor/Attorney - Washington, DC - Adriaan Jacobovits de Szeged: Former Netherlands Ambassador to the United States - The HagueThe HagueThe Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
, The NetherlandsNetherlandsThe Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders... - Ashley JuddAshley JuddAshley Judd is an American television and film actress, who has played lead roles in films including Ruby in Paradise, Kiss the Girls, Double Jeopardy, Where the Heart Is and High Crimes...
: Actor/Activist - Franklin, TennesseeFranklin, TennesseeFranklin is a city within and the county seat of Williamson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 62,487 as of the 2010 census Franklin is located approximately south of downtown Nashville.-History:... - Gilbert OmennGil OmennGilbert Omenn is Professor of Internal Medicine, Human Genetics, and Public Health at the University of Michigan. He is the director of the UM Center for Computational Medicine & Biology and the Proteomics Alliance for Cancer Research....
: Professor of Internal Medicine, Human Genetics and Public Health, University of MichiganUniversity of MichiganThe University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
- Ann Arbor, MichiganAnn Arbor, MichiganAnn Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010... - Malcolm PottsMalcolm PottsDavid Malcolm Potts is a human reproductive scientist. Since 1993, he has been the first holder of the Fred H. Bixby-endowed chair in Population and Family Planning in the School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley....
: Bixby Professor, School of Public Health, University of California, BerkeleyUniversity of California, BerkeleyThe University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
- Berkeley, CaliforniaBerkeley, CaliforniaBerkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington... - Mechai ViravaidyaMechai ViravaidyaMechai Viravaidya is a former politician and activist in Thailand who has popularized condoms in that country.Since the 1970s, Mechai has been affectionately known as "Mr...
: Chairman, Population and Community Development Association - BangkokBangkokBangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, ThailandThailandThailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...