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Population Services International
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Global health nonprofit delivering health solutions
Population Services International
Work Here?
Global health nonprofit delivering health solutions
Overview
Population Services International (PSI) improves health in the developing world by tackling key challenges such as family planning, HIV/AIDS, maternal health, and illnesses affecting children under five (malaria, diarrhea, pneumonia, and malnutrition). How it works: PSI provides health products and services and couples them with strong communications and distribution efforts to drive wide acceptance and correct use. It partners with local governments, ministries of health, and community organizations to design, implement, and sustain health solutions. How it differs from competitors: PSI emphasizes a packaged approach that links service delivery with targeted communications and distribution networks, built through local partnerships to ensure lasting impact. Its goal is to expand access to effective health interventions and improve health outcomes across resource-limited settings.
About Population Services International
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Industries
Company Size
1,001-5,000
Company Stage
Grant
Total Funding
$8.3M
Headquarters
null
Founded
1970
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↑ 0%How a former goalkeeper is closing South Africa's HIV treatment gap for men. June 8, 2026 In South Africa, men are less likely than women to start and stay on HIV treatment. Coach Mpilo, founded by a former football goalkeeper and funded by the Gates Foundation, pairs HIV-positive "coaches" with "players" to turn that around. South Africa carries the world's largest HIV burden, with roughly eight million people living with the virus, close to one in five adults. Treatment coverage reveals a stubborn gender gap: by UNAIDS figures, about 80 percent of women living with HIV are on antiretroviral therapy, compared with only 68 percent of men. Men test later, start treatment later, interrupt it more often, and die of HIV-related causes at higher rates than women. Coach Mpilo was built to address that specific failure. The program grew out of the work of Silver Shabalala, a former goalkeeper for Durban's AmaZulu Football Club, who became an HIV advocate after his brother was diagnosed while imprisoned in Pretoria. When Shabalala and his colleagues asked men directly why so many avoided treatment, the answer was about trust rather than logistics. The men wanted proof that someone like them could live openly and well with HIV. As Shabalala put it, in an interview with the Gates Foundation, men wanted proof that someone like them could live openly and well with HIV. "A man needs a friend he can speak to, a friend who has walked that journey and has accepted himself." That insight drives the model. Coaches are men living openly with HIV, stable on treatment, and trained over about a week in interpersonal communication, mentorship, and problem-solving. They take referrals from clinics and community testing sites, field calls prompted by posters, accompany men to appointments, and ease the disclosure conversations that many men dread. The framing borrows from sport, with "coaches" mentoring "players." "Mpilo" means life or health in Zulu. Coaches lean on simple teaching tools, including bottles of colored beads to show how treatment suppresses the virus, and on the U=U message, short for Undetectable = Untransmittable. This means that once treatment suppresses the virus to undetectable levels, it cannot be sexually transmitted. The approach is led by Population Services International with Matchboxology and partners including BroadReach Healthcare and Right to Care, with funding from the Gates Foundation. A 2020 pilot across three districts produced strong early retention, and an independent evaluation in KwaZulu-Natal, run by the University of Cape Town's SALDRU with J-PAL Africa, is now measuring longer-term effects on viral suppression, mental health, and stigma. The Gates Foundation reports that 96 percent of the 41,000 men reached so far have started or resumed treatment. Coaches are recruited locally, trained in about a week, and work close to home, which makes the program quick to set up and deploy. That makes the current threat to it striking. Recent cuts to public health funding have cost some coaches their paid positions, yet many keep showing up, escorting men to clinics without reimbursement. As Shabalala sees it, the program built brotherhood. That may be the clearest measure of whether peer support can outlast the budgets that started it. This summary is based on the following sources:
What PSI is looking forward to in 2026. The past year challenged the global health community in unprecedented ways - and one in which PSI and its partners rose to meet those challenges head-on. Thanks to the dedication of colleagues, governments, partners, communities, and supporters around the world, Population Services International continued advancing equitable access to quality healthcare, strengthening systems, and reaching the people who need it most. As the first month of 2026 comes to an end, Population Services International is choosing to lead with optimism. Because even in difficult moments, this community continues to persevere, adapt, and deliver impact - and there is a great deal to be excited about this year. Across PSI, some of the exciting activities and partnerships Population Services International is looking forward to in 2026: * Drones supporting health system resilience in Madagascar: Population Services International has partnered with Aerial Metric to use drones to more effectively reach people with quality health products. * The distribution of Lenacapavir across Africa: PSI and partners are supporting nine early-adopter African countries to introduce the twice-yearly injectable to prevent HIV. * Market-based sanitation (MBS) in Mozambique: Population Services International partnered with UNICEF to revitalize the sanitation market and strengthen climate resilience. * Engaging men as partners, not bystanders: Population Services International has joined the Gates Foundation in creating spaces where men and women can co-advocate for better health outcomes. * Pharmacy-based immunization delivery (PBID): With Takeda and national partners, Population Services International is unlocking the full potential of pharmacies to deliver life-saving vaccines. * Scaling digital health workforce development and integration: Population Services International is partnering with governments to integrate public and private digital health systems and build the workforce capacity to turn digital tools into real-world impact. * Powering health systems strengthening in Sierra Leone: Population Services International is partnering with the Government to strengthen health systems from the ground up - improving community-based care, enhancing disease surveillance, and advancing One Health coordination. * The institutionalization of PMC: Perennial malaria chemoprevention (PMC) is an effective method to prevent malaria and PMC strategies are being implemented in global health guidelines and national health strategies. * Supporting evidence-based global health research: In 2025, PSI contributed to 57 peer-reviewed publications and Population Services International look forward to continuing research that lays the groundwork for effective health interventions. There's power in positivity and partnership. Join Population Services International in starting the year on an optimistic note - and share what you're looking forward to in 2026 in the comments. Donate to support its work. Related. In the remote village of Saniyani Moryani, Sindh, lives Arbab Khatoon Tunio, a determined woman who has... By Betty Abera, Project Director, Pharmacy-Based Immunization As the world continues to analyze the aftermath... By Dr. Karin Hatzold, Director of Global HIV, TB and Viral Hepatitis Programs The consequences... Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the leading causes of infectious disease death globally. In 2023, over... Like many in its global community, PSI has received termination notices for the vast majority of its... The past year challenged the global health community in unprecedented ways - and one in which PSI and... By Dr. Karin Hatzold, Global Infectious Diseases Lead, PSI World AIDS Day 2025 marks a landmark moment... By Susan Davis, Philanthropy Advisor and Global WASH Professional, Dain Hansen, Executive Vice President... "I have chosen the implant. I need to make sure I finish my school without any disruptions." Chimwemwe... In northwest Nigeria, nearly one in three girls becomes a mother by age 19. These young girls, still... In the remote village of Saniyani Moryani, Sindh, lives Arbab Khatoon Tunio, a determined woman who has... By Betty Abera, Project Director, Pharmacy-Based Immunization As the world continues to analyze the aftermath... By Dr. Karin Hatzold, Director of Global HIV, TB and Viral Hepatitis Programs The consequences... Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the leading causes of infectious disease death globally. In 2023, over... Like many in its global community, PSI has received termination notices for the vast majority of its... The past year challenged the global health community in unprecedented ways - and one in which PSI and... By Dr. Karin Hatzold, Global Infectious Diseases Lead, PSI World AIDS Day 2025 marks a landmark moment... By Susan Davis, Philanthropy Advisor and Global WASH Professional, Dain Hansen, Executive Vice President... "I have chosen the implant. I need to make sure I finish my school without any disruptions." Chimwemwe... In northwest Nigeria, nearly one in three girls becomes a mother by age 19. These young girls, still...
VUT partners with PSI to promote menstrual health and student well-being. "Population Services International (PSI) donated sanitary pads to Vaal University of Technology, which were distributed across student residences. The initiative supports the health and well-being of young women." On 7 November 2025, the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) received a generous donation of sanitary pads, along with Trust condoms, from Population Services International (PSI). The initiative aimed to promote menstrual health, restore dignity, and support young women from diverse backgrounds within the university community. PSI, a globally recognised nonprofit organisation, is dedicated to improving public health with a strong focus on sexual and reproductive health, HIV prevention, and gender equality. Through this donation, PSI reaffirmed its commitment to empowering women and ensuring that female students have the resources to manage their health with confidence and dignity. Following the donation, VUT, through its Institutional HIV and AIDS Unit (IHAU), led the distribution of sanitary pads to various student residences, ensuring that young women in need were reached. Peer educators played a pivotal role in this process, assisting with the distribution across residences such as Nkandla and others on campus. Their involvement ensured that the process was well coordinated and that students received both products and guidance. During the handover event, Mr Vincent Mdluli, HIV Assistant Coordinator at VUT, delivered a heartfelt message on the impact of such contributions. He noted that access to sanitary towels and other donated items would greatly assist students, particularly those facing financial hardship. "These pads will bring back women's pride," he said, emphasising that many young women come from challenging backgrounds and that this gesture would help restore their confidence and self-worth. Mrs Maureen Motsukunyane, Director of IHAU, expressed sincere gratitude to PSI for recognising and responding to the needs of students. She highlighted that the initiative would make a tangible difference in many lives. "These sanitary towels will help most of our needy students," she said, urging young women to use the resources wisely and remain focused on their education. Students also shared heartfelt messages of appreciation. Ms Nkosazana Ntado from Nkandla residence said, "This kind of gesture should be done often, as it helps other girls who really need it." Likewise, Ms Lesego Ramothibe added, "Thanks to PSI and VUT, because this will really help one lady, I don't want to lie." Through this initiative, PSI, VUT, and its peer educators have demonstrated the transformative power of partnership in advancing menstrual health and supporting student well-being, ensuring that no woman's education is disrupted by a lack of essential resources.
PSI Nigeria uses storytelling, local languages to promote menstrual health. Population Services International (PSI) Nigeria, a non-profit organisation, has launched two audiovisual materials that uses storytelling in local languages to promote menstrual health, challenge stigma, and spark open conversations among adolescents and their communities. In a statement issued on Friday, the organisation noted that the materials are part of an ongoing effort to promote menstrual health and hygiene. Developed under the Menstrual Health and Hygiene-No Wahala (MH-NoW) project, the audiovisuals- My Red Flower and Menstruation with Dignity, are produced in local languages, Pidgin English and Hausa to resonate with diverse audiences across the country. The short films are provided with English subtitles to ensure inclusivity for national and global audiences, enabling broader understanding and engagement beyond linguistic boundaries. Telling real stories in local voices. The organisation said the films were inspired by real-life experiences of Nigerian girls and women to make discussions about menstruation simple and relatable. According to PSI Nigeria, the goal is to use culturally relevant narratives to improve menstrual health awareness and understanding menstrual hygiene practice among adolescent girls and young women. "They make menstrual health conversations simple, relatable, and community driven. Through storytelling and imagery, they challenge taboos, spark dialogue, and encourage collective action toward menstrual equity and dignity for all," the organisation said. Screenings in nassarawa and Akwa Ibom. The audiovisuals were launched in Government Secondary School, Akwanga, Nasarawa State and Goretti Girls College, Akwa Ibom State, where students, teachers, menstrual health champions and other stakeholders watched and discussed the videos. The session demonstrated practical way to use the materials to aid dialogue sessions, while also gathering valuable feedback on their cultural relevance and user- friendliness. A student in Akwanga, after watching one of the videos, My Red Flower, said "The video helped me overcome the fear and shame around menstruation." In Akwa Ibom, the principal of Goretti Girls College, Eno Ekpo, said she was inspired by how openly menstruation was discussed. Ms Ekpo said, "This is my first time, at my age and as a principal, seeing menstruation talked about so freely. It should no longer be treated as a taboo." She added that unlike in her early days when menstruation was treated as a taboo, the girls in her school are now equipped with the right knowledge to talk about it openly, courtesy of MH-NoW programme. Beyond schools. PSI noted that the campaign is not limited to schools as they also introduced the audiovisuals to community health champions, parents, and teachers to demonstrate how the materials can be used to guide conversations at home and in communities. A male teacher who attended the launch described the project as timely and beneficial, noting that it has value for both boys and girls. "As a man, I have a wife and a daughter, and I'm thinking about how to get this video for my seven-year-old," he said. In Akwa Ibom, community health advocate Idoreyin, a menstrual health champion, said the videos have equipped her to better educate girls even when teachers or parents are unavailable. "They help girls understand their bodies and practice good hygiene with confidence," she added. Aligning with Nigeria's menstrual health policy. The federal government recently validated Nigeria's first-ever National Policy on Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management (MHHM), a framework that seeks to create a stigma-free society by 2030. The policy, endorsed in August 2025 by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, recognises that menstruation is not only a health matter but also a gender, education, and development issue. It highlights that millions of Nigerian women and girls between the ages of 15 and 49, representing nearly 30 per cent of the population, continue to face barriers to safe and dignified menstrual management due to stigma, poor infrastructure, and limited access to information. At the policy validation event, Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, stressed that menstrual health must be treated as a human right and a public health priority. Ms Sulaiman-Ibrahim called for "coordinated action that ensures every girl can manage her menstruation safely, confidently, and without shame." READ ALSO: NPHCDA equips FMC gusau with n300m medical equipment. PSI Nigeria said it views the audiovisuals as strategic tools for continuous health education, stigma reduction, and community engagement, helping adolescents and young women learn, speak up, and manage their menstruation with dignity and confidence. "I felt joyful seeing how the mother in the video educated her daughter. Not all mothers, like my mother, have time to teach their daughters," one of the students said.
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About Population Services International
We're working on gathering enough insights on this company, check back soon!
Industries
Company Size
1,001-5,000
Company Stage
Grant
Total Funding
$8.3M
Headquarters
null
Founded
1970
There are no jobs for Population Services International right now.
Find jobs on Simplify and start your career today