PSI is a global health organization dedicated to improving the health of people in the developing world by focusing on serious challenges like a lack of family planning, HIV and AIDS, barriers to maternal health, and the greatest threats to children under five, including malaria, diarrhea, pneumonia and malnutrition.
A hallmark of PSI is a commitment to the principle that health services and products are most effective when they are accompanied by robust communications and distribution efforts that help ensure wide acceptance and proper use.
PSI works in partnership with local governments, ministries of health and local organizations to create health solutions that are built to last.
HISTORY
PSI was founded in 1970 to improve reproductive health using commercial marketing strategies. For its first 15 years, PSI worked mostly in family planning (hence the name Population Services International). In 1985, it started promoting oral rehydration therapy. PSI’s first HIV prevention project — which promoted abstinence, fidelity and condoms — began in 1988. PSI added malaria and safe water to its portfolio in the 1990s and tuberculosis in 2004.
HEALTH IMPACT
PSI has an uncompromising focus on measurable health impact and measures its effect on disease and death much like a for-profit measures its profits. Just last year PSI saved the lives of 15,441 mothers, prevented 5,644,400 unintended pregnancies, stopped 254,792 new HIV infections, and avoided 273,740 deaths due to diseases like malaria, diarrhea and pneumonia that most threaten young children.
PROGRAM LOCATION
World headquarters in Washington, D.C., programs in 69 countries, European office in Amsterdam.
PEOPLE
More than 8,900 staff work for PSI and its affiliates. PSI's expatriate staff is about 1% of the overall workforce. Support services and advocacy are provided by staff in Washington, D.C., and Amsterdam, Netherlands.
