Pathfinder International
Encyclopedia
Watertown, Massachusetts
The Town of Watertown is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 31,915 at the 2010 census.- History :Archeological evidence suggests that Watertown was inhabited for thousands of years before the arrival of settlers from England...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
and is a global non-profit organization (NGO 501(c)(3)), that focuses on reproductive health, family planning, HIV/AIDS prevention and care, women and girls empowerment, and more. Under the leadership of Daniel E. Pellegrom, who became CEO in 1985, Pathfinder has grown from a small organization to the current global organization, with an annual budget exceeding USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
100 million. The organization operates in more than 25 developing countries throughout Africa, Asia, the Near East, and Latin America.
History
In 1957 "Pathfinder Fund" was founded originally by leading birth controlBirth control
Birth control is an umbrella term for several techniques and methods used to prevent fertilization or to interrupt pregnancy at various stages. Birth control techniques and methods include contraception , contragestion and abortion...
advocate, Clarence Gamble
Clarence Gamble
Clarence James Gamble, married to Sarah Merry Bradley-Gamble, was the heir of the Procter and Gamble soap company fortune. He was an advocate of birth control and eugenics, and founded Pathfinder International.-Biography:...
, heir of the Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble is a Fortune 500 American multinational corporation headquartered in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio and manufactures a wide range of consumer goods....
soap company fortune.
In 1985 Daniel E. Pellegrom became CEO of Pathfinder International.
In 1996 Pathfinder was awarded the United Nations Population Award.
In 2006 Pathfinder surpasses revenue of USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
90 million (FY).
Activities
Pathfinder International works together with many organizations, ranging from national ministries of health to local NGOs, to deliver reproductive healthReproductive 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...
and 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...
information and services to women, young adults, commercial sex workers, and rural populations. Pathfinder's programs also integrate HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment activities.
Pathfinder operates 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 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...
programs in more than 25 countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin American, offering highly effective clinical and non-clinical service models, training for service providers and managers, and technical assistance to strengthen grantee organizations. Pathfinder expands and improves client-centered services and systems through multiple service delivery points, from doorstep, workplace, and market place delivery to depots, health posts, clinics, and hospitals. Pathfinder expands access to services for underserved groups and those at risk—young adults, men, postpartum and postabortion women, and hard-to-reach groups. The organization creates a positive environment for the use of 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 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...
services through communications and advocacy
Advocacy
Advocacy is a political process by an individual or a large group which normally aims to influence public-policy and resource allocation decisions within political, economic, and social systems and institutions; it may be motivated from moral, ethical or faith principles or simply to protect an...
interventions. Pathfinder strengthens provider performance and competence through training, curricula formulation, and contraceptive technology updates. They also integrate maternal and child health, HIV prevention, and postabortion care services into family planning programs to meet client needs. Pathfinder ensures clients' informed consent and voluntary choice and strive to provide the widest range of modern contraceptive methods possible in individual country contexts.
Funding
Pathfinder accepts contributions from the US government, foreign governments, individuals and foundations.Mission statement
Official mission statement :Pathfinder International’s mission is to ensure that people everywhere have the right and opportunity to live a healthy reproductive life.
Reproductive health is essential for creating better opportunities throughout life. When people take charge of their life choices such as when and how often to have children, they gain confidence and strength. They can better pursue their education, contribute to the local economy, and engage in their communities.
Pathfinder International places reproductive health services at the center of all that we do—believing that health care is not only a fundamental human right but is critical for expanding opportunities for women, families, communities, and nations, while paving the way for transformations in environmental stewardship, decreases in population pressures, and innovations in poverty reduction.
In more than 25 countries, Pathfinder provides women, men, and adolescents with a range of quality health services—from contraception and maternal care to HIV prevention and AIDS care and treatment. Pathfinder strives to strengthen access to family planning, ensure availability of safe abortion services, advocate for sound reproductive health policies, and, through all of our work, improve the rights and lives of the people we serve.
Board of Directors Officers
Cynthia A. Fields - Chair of the Board ChairJames M. Schwartz - Vice Chair
Manuel Urbina, MD, MPH - Secretary
Benjamin R. Kahrl - Treasurer
Board of directors
- Sharon W. Allison
- Andrew A. Arkutu, MB, FRCOG
- Claudine Bacher
- Richard L. Berkowitz, MD
- Cornelia L. Cook
- Andrew L. Frey
- Walter J. Gamble, MD
- Jane L. Havemeyer
- Anne Hale Johnson
- Edward M. Kaplan
- Rajen A. Kilachand
- Elisabeth L. Lyon
- Florence W. Manguyu, MD
- Deborah Prothrow-Stith, MD
- Prakash Shah
- Valerie C. Spencer
- Ronda E. Stryker
- John F. Swift
- Alfred W. Tate
- Ralph S. Tate
- June L. Tatelman
- George N. Todd
- Roslyn M. Watson