Ethiopian Society of Obstetricians & Gynecologists

ESOG has Undertaken Series of Trainings

Details

Ethiopian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ESOG) has been undertaking a series of training under its project- Strengthening the Capacity and Improve Quality of Reproductive Health (FP & CAC) and Reducing Stigma on Safe Abortion Care Service Providers. A series of training was conducted on comprehensive family planning with emphasis on Long-Acting Family Planning (LAFP) methods in Debre Birhan and Adama From December 2020 to January 2021. The training was being provided for health care providers of the projects in the Amhara and Oromia Regions respectively.

The main purpose of the training was to build the capacity of health care providers to provide quality family planning services, ensuring a continuous service provision based on client choice. A total of 75 health care workers, two from each hospital and one from each health center, were provided three rounds of training. The trainees have performed counseling and implant and IUCD insertions on models and clients. The training had practical sessions on catchment health centers.

Another training that involved 2 trainees from 12 hospitals was also conducted from January 10- 20, 2021 in Adama Town, the Oromia Regional State.

Long-Acting Family Planning (LAFP) methods, specifically Intrauterine Contraceptive Devices [IUCDs] and implants provide uninterrupted protection to women for 3 to 12 years. A good opportunity to provide IUCD is in the post-partum and post-abortion periods. But they must be inserted by trained providers in a safe clinical environment. With limited facilities and few providers, widespread implementation of LAFP in Ethiopia requires training of significant numbers of rural providers and developing properly equipped facilities for implant and IUCD insertions. Based on this, the Ministry of Health (MoH) and ESOG have organized the training and the participants were from ESOG project facilities and those selected by MoH.

Created: 07 June 2021

ESOG-FIGO Collaboration to Launch New Website

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The Ethiopian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ESOG) is collaborating with the International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology (FIGO) on a new website called “Ask Dr. FIGO” – launching June 2021. The free-to-use website is meant to help users find answers to their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) questions.

The website has language support customized to allow users to ask questions and receive answers in Amharic or English. Other local languages will also be included in the future. The user asks SRHR questions anonymously, which will then be received by registered ESOG member OB-Gyns, sexual and reproductive health professionals. The professionals use the doctor platform to then prep and publish their answers, where the user is then able to return to access the information.

The new platform, which has been under development for over a year, is expected to answer questions from adolescents and the general public in major cities and towns throughout Ethiopia. The platform will be launched as a pilot for a year to eventually go fully operational. Taking the lessons learned from the project in Ethiopia, it will also be launched in many African countries and others worldwide in all of their respective local languages.

The project is also working with the Ministry of Health and other initiatives like YEGNA to promote the use of the new platform.

Created: 03 June 2021

Training on Infection Prevention and Patient Safety

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The Ethiopian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ESOG) provided training on Infection Prevention and Patient Safety at Walda Primary Hospital from November 9-18, 2020. Participants of the training were a total of 18 health care workers six Midwives from MCH Department, six nurses from other departments and also 6 catchment health centers health workers.

The objective of the training was to build the capacity and skills of health workers and other actors to infection prevention (IPPS).

In developing countries like Ethiopia, healthcare-associated infections are recognized as a major burden for patients, health care management and the society at large. The potential for the transmission of infections in the health care setting is high. Statistics show that a hospital is one of the most hazardous places to work. Both those receiving and providing care in hospitals are at risk of acquiring and transmitting infections through exposure to blood, body fluids or contaminated materials.

Healthcare workers may be exposed to infection through the provision of care, invasive clinical procedures, the use of instruments and exposure to needle stick injuries and in turn to potentially infectious agents which can cause nosocomial infection or Healthcare Acquired Infection.

Created: 07 March 2021

Quality Improvement Training for Quality Officers

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The Ethiopian Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (ESOG)- under its QI in FP and CAC Project- conducted a training that aimed at improving the knowledge, skills and attitudes of RH care service providers. It was conducted from October 24-28, 2020. The training planned to equip trainees with necessary skills to provide reliable evidence-based care; implement QI processes, and utilize quality measures to improve care systems and outcomes.

One of the objectives of the project is the improvement of the quality of RH/FP and CAC/services. To achieve this objective, ensuring that health care providers develop processes for continuous quality improvement (CQI), requires that health personnel acquire the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to plan, define, monitor, improve and evaluate quality on a continuous basis.

Taking standard training package as a requirement to meet its objectives, the project in collaboration with Oromia Regional Health Bureau’s Quality and Equity Case Team has conducted a Four-day Quality Improvement training for facility MCH head and quality officers in Arsi zones, Ambo town, in North Shewa Meeting hall. There were 2 participants from Woreda health office, 4 from zone office and also 4 participants from 2 Hospitals and 2 participants from each of the 15 health centres. Medical Doctors, Midwife Nurses, Health officers had participated in the training.

Created: 07 March 2021

ESOG Concluded 29th Annual Conference

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The Ethiopian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ESOG) has concluded its 29^th Annual Conference successfully last Wednesday, February 17, 2021. The Conference started with Pre-Conference CMEs, an all-virtual event that began on February 14 and continued over the next day and brought dozens of speakers from all over the globe. Hundreds of health professionals from both Ethiopia and beyond have attended the series of CME sessions- which were considered very successful in their administration and delivery.

The Pre-Conference CMEs were followed by the opening of the Conference on Tuesday, February 16, 2021. Present at the Opening were significant dignitaries in the health sector including Dr. Dereje Duguma, state-minister of Health, Prof. Senait Fisseha, director of International Programs at The Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, and ESOG’s President Dr. Mekdes Daba, among others.

As part of the opening ceremony, new graduates of obstetrics and gynecology from various institutions nationwide were welcomed. Also part of the opening session was the honoring of ESOG members for their service. This year’s honorees include Dr. Ahmed Abdella, who was honored with ESOG’s Lifetime Achievement Award, Dr. Mulu Muleta, who received ESOG’s Award of Honor, and Dr. Ashebir Surafel, who received ESOG Distinguished Service Award.

The Plenary Session of the Main Event addressed the theme of the conference- Mitigating the Impacts of COVID-19 on RMNCAH Services, and other related topics. Chaired by Dr. Rahel Demissew, ESOG’s Executive Board and Scientific Committee Member, the talk brings to the stage Dr. Yirgu G.Hiwot, director of Clinical Services at AAU’s College of Health Sciences, Dr. Mahlet Yigeremu, director of Residency Program at AAU’s College of Health Sciences, Mr. Abebe Shibiru, country director for Marie Stopes International Ethiopia and Sister Zemzem Mohammed, Senior Maternal Health Expert, MCH and Nutrition Directorate, Federal Ministry of Health.

As always, the Plenary Session was a platform for a comprehensive approach to the theme under focus. This year, speakers approached the pandemic visa vis the reality on the ground, leadership during health crises, residency and medical training, and adaptive strategies, among others. The Opening Ceremony and the Plenary Session were hybrid sessions that were attended in person at Hilton Hotel with the sessions being broadcasted virtually.

The Scientific Session of the Conference, which was conducted on Wednesday, February 17, 2021, was an all virtual session that brought together presentations from 13 researchers. Even though limitations that came with the pandemic did not allow poster presentations, ESOG has awarded the Best Oral Presentation. This year’s best oral presentation went to Dr. Delayehu Bekele for his presentation on research entitled- A Randomized Controlled Trial of Sequential Versus Simultaneous Use of Foley Balloon and Oxytocin for Induction of Labor in Nulliparous Pregnant Women.

This year’s state of the art lecture brought Prof. Atalay Alem with a presentation on Building Resilience to Survive Tough Times. This session, attended both in-person and online, was said to be very important for the health community on the frontline in the fight against the pandemic.

The Conference was concluded with a social gathering.

Created: 20 February 2021