Nashauna Drummond, Lifestyle Coordinator

Dr. Olivia McDonald, executive director of the National Family Planning Board. - photos by Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

Clad in a red baseball cap with strands of red hair sticking out the sides, her trusty pen quickly adheres to almost any surface on which it is placed. Always on hand when needed to make a jotting, and very difficult to lose. Besides herself, it's also one of the few things that stand out in her office.

She is Dr. Olivia McDonald, executive director of the National Family Planning Board (NFPB), on Sylvan Avenue. Last month, the NFPB celebrated its 40th anniversary and the members had much to celebrate. They have been working assiduously in the shadows, and have played a great role in helping to reduce Jamaica's fertility rate (average number of children born to Jamaican women), from 4.5 in the 1980s to 2.4.

"The NFPB is not just about the use of contraceptive," explains Dr. McDonald as she settles in a plush leather chair in front of an oval table that takes up half of her office. "It's also about promoting safe sexual behaviour and preventing unplanned pregnancy," she said.

The slogan for their current campaign is 'Plan for Two', with popular DJ Wayne Marshall as their spokesperson'. This is a spin-off from their '70s media campaign, 'Two is Better Than Two Many'.

Teenage pregnancy

The association has also seen improvements in the number of teenage pregnancies. "We are not where we want to be, but seeing improvements," she said. Dr. McDonald explained that the last reproductive survey done for the period 1997-2002 showed a significant decline in the number of births in teenagers.

She noted that one of the obstacles in combating teenage pregnancy was the attitude of adults. "One of the obstacles is adult's acceptance that persons under 16 are sexually active. They need to be trained how to recognise what is in the best interest of the child. Make it (public health system) youth friendly."

She also noted that parents have a responsibility to talk to their children about reproductive health. She notes that one of the activities of the NFPB is to hold periodic seminars specifically for parents, "to provide them with the correct information on key reproductive issues."

Empowerment

She noted that there have also been improvements in contraceptive use. The last reproductive health survey showed that contraceptive prevalence of women in unions was 69 per cent, while women with unmet need for contraceptive was only 8.7 per cent.

Currently, contraceptives are distributed in 350 health centres, and the new FC2 (Femidom) which was previously available only in pharmacies, will be distributed in health centres. She noted that the new Femidom is made of a much thinner material and it will empower more women to negotiate condom use in their relationships.

Dr. Mcdonald is a Wolmer's Girl School past student who started working with the NFPB 25 years ago as a medical officer. A trained gynaecologist and obstetrician who was involved in public health, working with the NFPB, she notes, has exposed her to another side of medicine. Gynaecology is a patient- oriented activity while executive directorship of NFPB is health management. "You're exposed to a side of medicine that you probably never thought of," she said.

With a very reserved nature, Dr. McDonald seems content to work behind the scenes. She will admit to spending her leisure time tending to her orchids and in the kitchen. But there are inconspicuous clues to her personality around her office. Two miniature dog figures decorate her bookcase. This hints at the doctor being an animal lover. "I've moved from four to two German Shepherds," she admitted with a laugh. She also has three sets of love birds, and two ponds of koi fish. Married to former Commissioner of Police Trevor McMillan for 24 years, she has only one son.

Dr. McDonald's trusty pen is always at hand.