In Benin, Mali, and Senegal, some new voices are coming together to change attitudes about family planning: religious leaders, community activists, human rights advocates, and journalists are teaming up with health experts to increase knowledge of and positive attitudes about family planning. Now, with support from IntraHealth International, they are using social media and a new website to share these messages and learn from each other.

A new group, Health Works Uganda, has formed to strengthen Uganda’s health workforce by drawing on the power of public-private partnerships.

From July 9–10, IntraHealth staff in Senegal welcomed Ms. Melinda Gates and coordinated opportunities for her to visit family homes, health clinics, and a mosque where she learned firsthand about the experiences couples, health workers, and religious leaders have had with accessing and discussing family planning.

Ms. Gates also met with representatives from the government, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector where she probed deeply about the constraints the Senegalese face in using family planning and the challenges of providing and promoting these services.