Marie Stopes Society Pakistan (MSS) is proud to announce that it has been awarded the “Infection Prevention Excellency Award” - a matter of great honor and achievement for MSS.

The award was granted after a rigorous process of assessment that involved peer reviews of the standards of infection prevention using the MDT Quality Technical Assistance (QTA) checklist. The Australia programme conducted the technical audit for the Pakistan programme.

The Goals and Objectives of Infection Prevention IP are to keep the client and the environment safe through a series of procedures that decreases the chance of infection.
The IP award has been achieved due to the strict vigilance of the MSS team, high standards of service quality and its strict adherence to infection prevention protocols as set by MSI.

This is indeed another milestone in the growing list of MSS achievements!

www.srhmatters.org, MSS has launched a bi-lingual website on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) for the youth. The website provides online counseling, information and referrals on SRH matters through youth-friendly health professionals. The Urdu website will be launched in November 2008.

A delegation from UNFPA visited the MSS Support Office on Monday, 20th October. This small group of youth aged between 20 and 25 came from different areas of Sindh, namely Karachi, Jacobabad, Thatta, Mirpurkhas and Matiari.

The goal of these youngsters is to improve the quality of life of young people by raising awareness about Sexual and Reproductive Health rights of young people and represent the Youth parliament of Sindh.

The youth were very eager and excited to learn about MSS activities, they were given a short brief on MSS, and the services that MSS provides. This was followed by a question/answer session where lots of questions were raised! They were then taken to the PECHS centre to see where MSS services are offered.

MSS hopes to entertain such groups in the future as well.

MSS has initiated Guest Speaker Sessions for its team to engage in discussions on issues ranging from SRHR issues to Branding, Research and Smart Business solutions.

Our first session was held on the 30th of September, 2008 at the Support Office. Mr. Shoaib Siddiqui was our first guest speaker and spoke on Branding for a Non-Profit Organization. Mr. Siddiqui is a consultant and marketer at the Four Corners Group (4CG), a company that provides practical solutions to local and international clients.

Mr. Siddiqui talked about Branding and how the brand is the most important asset for a Non- Profit Organization as it creates trust, builds recognition and converts into loyalty and a long-term relationship with clients. Another interesting point raised was that NPOs do not need to spend on marketing, as their teams are brand ambassadors who exhibit the values of the organization.

click here to view the Presentation.

MSS has successfully achieved certification status by the Pakistan Center for Philanthropy for meeting high standards on internal governance, financial management and program delivery.

The MSS Mobile Service Unit (MSU) began operations in 2007 by providing reproductive health services to the sparsely and scattered populated rural areas of Pakistan. Currently four MSUs are operational in Khairpur, Peshawar and Multan and four additional MSU’s will be introduced in 2009. Since establishment, the MSUs have served 4137 men and women with Reproductive Health services.

In keeping with MSS principles and approach, the MSUs work in close coordination and complete involvement of the local government and the communities it serves.

Marie Stopes Society has embarked on an expansion of its services in Pakistan. Under its National Expansion Project (2007 – 2012), the MSS geographical spread will increase to include 58 new centers in 58 districts ensuring access and utilization of high quality reproductive health services to the underserved.

These services will be supported by a large-scale, culturally appropriate behavioral change and communication (BCC) initiative to increase awareness and drive demand for services. 

Dr. Mohsina Bilgrami – Managing Director (Managing Director) Marie Stopes Society was awarded the Marie Stopes ‘Pioneering Spirit’ certificate for innovative contributions towards the MSI programme at the Global Partnership Retreat in March 2007. 

Whose Right? Whose Choice? Who Cares?
23 – 24 October 2007 London, Uk

The Marie Stopes Internaional ‘Global Safe Abortion Conference’ in association with IPAS and Abortion Rights, will confront both national and international issues on abortion focusing on rights, access, advocacy and funding.
This conference aims to create a forum which will build consensus and impetus around international efforts to reduce the unacceptable toll on women’s health and lives caused by unsafe abortion.

For details visit: www.globalsafeabortion.org

MSS is one of the pioneering organizations in Pakistan to offer a Toll Free Service helpline all over the country on SRH issues. Anyone with access to a telephone anywhere within Pakistan can call up the MSS toll free number for counseling and referrals.

The toll free number is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and a doctor is available to take calls from 4 p.m. to 9 a.m. daily and also available on days when MSS centres are closed.