PAI Mourns the Loss of Sexual and Reproductive Rights Champion Edford Mutuma

PAI mourns the loss of a longtime partner and Zambian advocate Edford Mutuma, who passed away on May 30^th. Edford worked with PAI for over a decade, first in his capacity as executive director of Youth Vision Zambia and throughout his career at Planned Parenthood Association of Zambia (PPAZ).

As executive director of Youth Vision Zambia and president of the African Youth and Adolescent Network on Population and Development, Edford promoted greater youth participation in Africa’s development and was recognized as an emerging leader by UNAIDS and WHO. He most recently served as executive director of IPAS Zambia where he worked to ensure that all Zambian women could access the full range of sexual and reproductive health services.

As one of Zambia’s foremost sexual and reproductive health champions, Edford not only fought for the rights of women and girls, but also for greater country ownership and partnership between civil society and government on issues of family planning. Through his leadership, PPAZ successfully reinstated Zambia’s budget line for reproductive health supplies in 2014. Throughout his lifetime, Edford brought unwavering passion, determination, and optimism to empowering women and girls. He will be deeply missed.

Read more about Edford here:

• Champion Stories: Edford Mutuma
• Zambian  Advocates Win Big with New Budget Line For Reproductive Health Supplies
• Zambian Family Planning Advocates: “Think Like an Ant, not Like an Elephant.”