Walking with the best – Ipas India announces launch of “Pioneer Plus Club”

Dr. K.N. Rajput was the first of many ob-gyns to enjoy the networking opportunities, regular scientific and technology updates and other benefits provided by the Pioneer Plus Club.

In January, before an audience of over 4,000 obstetrics and gynecology specialists gathered at an annual conference, Ipas India launched the “Pioneer Plus Club,” an exclusive network for abortion-care providers and other leaders in reproductive-health care.

Ipas India ’s innovative Pioneer Plus Club provides members with networking opportunities, regular scientific and technology updates, and the chance to participate in international exchanges with colleagues from neighboring Asian countries. The lessons learned from these international exchanges will improve service delivery in India.

According to Ipas India’s product promotion and distribution manager, Mr. Vinoj Manning, “The most significant aspect of the Club is that it is a platform for service providers from remote towns and villages to be part of the larger safe abortion movement and network at a national level. It acknowledges the very significant contributions of doctors offering an incredible service where it is most needed.”

The Pioneer Plus Club also aims to promote state-of-the-art technologies related to abortion care, including medication abortion and the new Ipas MVA Plus^®. When they join, members are provided with a comprehensive “starter kit” that includes discount coupons for manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) instrument repurchases as well as a membership certificate.

A total of 306 doctors are currently members of the Pioneer Plus Club, though that number is expected to increase to 2,000 by the end of the year. The Club’s membership includes providers based in primary- through tertiary-level health-care settings in both the public and private sectors, who work in urban areas such as Mumbai and New Delhi as well as in more rural areas of the country.

The Pioneer Plus Club was launched at the 48th annual All India Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology (AICOG), which was held in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, from January 6-9, 2005. The annual conference is coordinated by the Federation of Obstetric and Gynecological Societies of India (FOGSI), which is the world’s largest national association of obstetricians and gynecologists.

FOGSI is one of Ipas India’s main partners, playing a key role in increasing the quality of and access to safe abortion services across the country through advocacy and provider training. The Pioneer Plus Club has been strongly endorsed by FOGSI members, and several past and present FOGSI leaders were among the first to join. Dr. Shyam Desai (current President), Dr. Kamini Rao (President, 2001) and Dr. Nozer Sheriar (Chair, MTP Committee, 1999-2003) are all current members of the Club.

Planned future initiatives of the Pioneer Plus Club include disseminating a training video—developed by Ipas, FOGSI and the Population Council—on medication abortion and offering workshops for members on providing safe abortion care.

The Pioneer Plus Club can be contacted at pioneerplusclub@vsnl.net.

For more information, contact:
Kirsten Sherk
Senior Associate, Media Relations
e-mail: sherkk@ipas.org
phone: 919.960.5612
fax: 919.929.0258