The Family Planning Association of Trinidad and Tobago (FPATT) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Ava Rampersad as Executive Director from August 1st, 2021.
Rampersad, a public health practitioner with almost 20 years’ experience in public health and community enhancement programming, has been with the Family Planning Association since January 2017. She succeeds FPATT’s former Executive Director, Mrs. Dona Da Costa Martinez at the helm of the organization.
Da Costa Martinez, who has a long and illustrious career championing sexual and reproductive health in Trinidad and Tobago for more than 35 years, has been with the Family Planning Association since 1985. She held the post of Executive Director from 1999 until earlier this year.
Under Da Costa Martinez’ stewardship, FPATT, which has been in existence since 1956, expanded its work to focus on integrating sexual rights in all of its programmes. This included the expansion of its advocacy work in abortion and LGBTQI rights, comprehensive sexuality education, gender based violence, HIV prevention and ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health services to most at risk populations including sex workers and adolescents. In 2021, Da Costa Martinez was promoted to serve as the IPPF Deputy Regional Director of the Americas and Caribbean.
Rampersad also has a decades-long career championing the rights of vulnerable populations across the region. Prior to joining FPATT, Rampersad served as Research and Technical Manager of the Global Social Marketing Powerhouse, Population Services International (PSI) where, among her other duties, she managed the development and execution of health-impact program research and managed behaviour change communication peer educators that made up 12 diverse teams across nine Caribbean countries. She also previously served as a sexual and reproductive health officer at the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), Trinidad and Tobago.
At FPATT, prior to her appointment as Executive Director, Rampersad continued to champion projects targeting vulnerable populations and led efforts to engage the government of Trinidad and Tobago as well as local and international entities for project support and funding. She also helped to coordinate FPATT’s business focus, providing oversight for key projects to ensure that programmatic and financial targets were met.
In 2021-2022, as FPATT continues to advance its efforts to deliver quality and affordable sexual and reproductive healthcare to all, the organization will also be strengthening its focus on implementing business plans to ensure its sustainability and to secure its continued provision of support services in an uncertain economic climate where donor constraints have been exacerbated by the COVID 19 pandemic.
Rampersad, who holds a Masters degree with merit in Public Health, a BA with hons. in Marketing, and a diploma in HR Management, is well positioned to steer the organization in this direction.
“FPATT’s value as a leading provider of sexual and reproductive health care is undeniable and its foundation is strong,” Rampersad noted. “Moving forward, the organization’s focus is to establish sustainable activities and to provide beneficiary-centred, integrated, and comprehensive solutions in response to our country’s sexual and reproductive health and rights gaps.”
Rampersad is also supported on the executive leadership team by Ms. Sharon Mottley who joined the organization as Deputy Executive Director on September 1st, 2021.
October 18th 2021