ESOG Team Participated at FIGO Regional Congress

A team comprised of Members and staff of the Ethiopian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ESOG) participated at the Regional Congress of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) in Kigali, Rwanda from December 13-15, 2020.

For keynotes and opening remarks, the Congress brought to the stage Dr. Hani Fawzi, international consultant and adviser to the FIGO, Professor Senait Fisseha, chief advisor to the World Health Organization (WHO), and Director-General of WHO Dr. Tedros Adhanom. Also available at the opening was H.E. Mrs. Jeannettee Kagame, the first lady of Rwanda. The first day of the congress also brought to the stage the Former President of the United Republic of Tanzania Dr. Jakaya Kikwete.    

The panels during the congress included Accountability for Women’s, Children’s, Adolescent’s Health, The 2016 WHO Antenatal Care Recommendations for a Positive Pregnancy Experience, Africa Rising: an Equitable Future Starts with SRHR for All, Advocating for Safe Abortion: Strengthening the Role of FIGO and Its Members- which was addressed by ESOG’s members Dr. Mekdes Daba and Dr. Mengistu Hailemariam.

Founded in 1954 by representatives from 42 national OBGYN member societies, FIGO grew out of a growing international movement to share knowledge and align best practices in a fast-changing world of health care and human rights.

The first meeting was convened by the inspiring gynecologist and obstetrician, Professor Hubert de Watteville (1907-1984) from Berne, Switzerland, on 26^th July 1954. Since recently, FIGO has started to hold both world and regional congresses.

The Kigali Regional Congress was attended by dozens in person at Kigali Convention Center while more than a thousand attended virtually from all over the world. Across 30 on-demand and 24 live sessions, including two-panel debates and four keynote presentations, more than 200 speakers engaged with guests in discussions that will help shape regional and global policy. The regional congress was made possible in collaboration with the Rwanda Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the African Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

ESOG Provides Training on Safe Abortion

The Ethiopian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ESOG) provided comprehensive abortion care training for health providers from Robe Hospital and 10 health centers at Robe hospital. One participant from each health center and 6 participants from Robe hospital, a total of 18 participants attended the training, which was conducted from October 19-28, 2020. The training involved both theoretical sessions and practical attachments.

The training is also in line with the Federal Ministry of Health, which has taken bold measures to reduce maternal mortality related to unsafe abortion primarily through expanding and improving family planning services and providing women with accessible, quality, and safe abortion care based on the national technical and procedural guideline for safe abortion services.

The overall goal of the project is to improve the quality of FP and CAC in the primary health care units to increase service uptake and support the Ministry of Health (MoH) on developing effective de-stigmatization strategies for safe abortion care among health care workers. Strengthening the capacity and quality improvement programs in FP, CAC, maternal and child health at primary hospitals and health centers, and reducing stigma and discrimination against abortion care providers are also the objectives of the project.

Funded by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and partnering with MoH, regional health bureaus, woreda health offices, hospitals, and health centers, the project will run until July 2021.