Prof Fred Sai flanked by champions of reproductive health rights and gender equality
The International Planned Parenthood Federation, Africa Region (IPPFAR) and the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana have re-launched the Fred T. Sai Institute to harness sexual and reproductive health education in Africa.
Established in honour of Ghanaian physician, public health expert and internationally recognised authority on health, nutrition, population and family planning, the Fred T. Sai Institute was first launched in Nairobi Kenya four years ago, giving scholarships to African researchers to investigate sexual and reproductive health topics.
The vision of the Fred T. Sai Institute is to use evidence-based research to champion access to reproductive health services and gender equality in Africa through bridging the gap between knowledge and practice.
Prof Sai, who is an advocate for women empowerment and gender equality, gracing the occasion with his presence, expressed his appreciation to the IPPF for naming the institute after him.
“I cannot express how heartwarming it is to receive this kind of recognition in one’s life while one is still alive and can take part in the launching,” he said.
Prof Sai expressed his hope for the institute to grow from strength to strength, adding, “May it encourage researchers to pursue important questions about sexual and reproductive health in Africa. May the findings help form a powerful advocacy to support social development in education and health and advance access to an acceptance of family planning to cumulatively advance efforts to foster the empowerment of Africa’s women and children.”
Lucien Kouakou, Regional Director, IPPF Africa, in his remarks, emphasized the role of the Fred T. Sai Institute in supporting research, modelling and replication of innovative service delivery programmes to generate the evidence needed for sound programme design and implementation in IPPF operational countries.
He said the Fred Sai Institute will leverage on Africa’s human resources to bring about the change required in gender equality and reproductive health rights.
“It will also hold a biennial programme, science lecture series between academia, NGOs and government to disseminate the findings,” he stated.
Niyi Ojuolape, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Country Representative, pledged the support of the UN agency to the activities of the Fred. T. Sai Institute.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri