BFPA money worries

THE BARBADOS FAMILY Planning Association (BFPA) is facing financial woes. And executive director George Griffith says the withdrawal of a quarter of a million dollars in Government subventions over the past two years has hit the non-profit organisation hard.
“We are faced with the greatest challenge in our 57-year history and the board [of management] has met in an emergency session to examine options available to the organisation,” Griffith told the DAILY NATION yesterday.
Government’s subvention cut to the BFPA was $173 000 for the period 2009-2010 and $77 000 in the 2010-2011 listings.
Griffith, who said the organisation’s staff has also been briefed about what he described as “a very precarious financial position”, however, noted efforts being made to ensure the sustainability of the organisation.
When contacted for a comment yesterday, Minister of Health Donville Inniss said that if the BFPA’s executive director was faced with a challenge managing the finances of the organisation he (Griffith) knew how to reach the ministry for any discussions on the issue.
“We would not be discussing such in the media,” Inniss said.
Meanwhile, Griffith said that despite the difficulties facing the organisation it would still continue to provide services to the public at the accustomed highly-subsidised rates.
“We have a philosophy of not depriving anyone on a basis of money and we have publicly stated that the provision of services will not be dependent on nationality, immigration status or sex.
“We don’t want to cause any panic among our clients. Services will continue in the foreseeable future,” he added.
The BFPA offers a comprehensive range of sexual and reproductive services to the public, from contraceptives to pregnancy and pap smear tests.
The organisation also offers a specialised clinic for men as well as an antenatal clinic and services for women from pregnancy until childbirth.