Title: SOGCs Role and Contribution to International Womens Health An Update
1SOGCs Role and Contribution to International
Womens Health An Update
- SOGCs International Womens Health Symposium,
June 16, 2005 - Quebec City (QC)
-
- By Dr. A.B. Lalonde, MD, FRCSC, FSOGC, FACs,
MSc - Executive Vice-President, SOGC
2Objectives of the Presentation
- Present SOGCs Framework for its International
Womens Health initiatives (IWHP) - 2. Review SOGCs Current International
Initiatives - SOGC Partnership Programs
- ALARM International Program
- SOGCs leadership on safe motherhood and newborn
health - Review SOGCs International Womens Health
Activities Domestically
3SOGCs Interest in International Womens Health
- It is not sufficient to be clinically
competent. It is not enough to be socially aware
and socially conscious. The ob/gyn must be a
champion for ALL womens health, welfare and
rights Their leadership and their social and
economical clout are needed to make essential
obstetric care available to all women -
- (Dr. T. Turmen, WHO FIGO Pre Congress
Workshop, 2000)
4SOGCs Interest in International Womens Health
- SOGCs main focus is promoting safe motherhood
and newborn health globally, that is womens
right to survive pregnancy and childbirth and
thus, access the care she needs to be safe and
healthy throughout her pregnancy and childbirth
and to deliver a healthy baby.
5SOGCs International Womens Health Program
(SIWH)
- In support of the Cairo consensus which defined
reproductive health as - a state of complete physical, mental and social
well-being and not merely the absence of disease
or infirmity, in all matters relating to the
reproductive system and to its functions and
processes. Reproductive health therefore implies
that people are able to have a satisfying and
safe sex life and that they have the capability
to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when
and how to do so. - ICPD Programme of Action, Paragraph 7.2
6SIWH Program Key Principles
- Safe motherhood is a basic human right.
- Womens poor sexual and reproductive health is
impacted by their gender, socioeconomic and
cultural factors and global concerns such as the
HIV/AIDS epidemic, all of which need to be
addressed.
7SIWH Program Key Principles
- Safe Motherhood and newborn health and improved
sexual and reproductive health can be achieved
through access to the primary health care system.
8SIWH Program Key Principles
- Increasing access and utilization of skilled
attendance at birth, including timely access to
emergency obstetrical care are critical
interventions related to Safe Motherhood and
Newborn Health.
9SIWH Program Key Principles
- Health professionals and their professional
associations have an important role to play in
ensuring womens access to quality sexual and
reproductive health services and respecting and
promoting womens sexual and reproductive rights.
10SIWH Program Key Principles
- Partnerships between North and South professional
associations and other stakeholders at the
global, national and local levels are viable and
sustainable means by which to promote Safe
Motherhood and Newborn Health.
11SIWH Program Key Principles
- Monitoring and evaluation are core components for
all international initiatives.
12SIWH Program SOGCs Partnership Program
(2003-06)
- Countries of intervention
- Guatemala
- Haiti
- Uganda
13SIWH Program SOGCs Partnership Program
(2003-06)
- Funded by Canadian International Development
Agency (CIDA) Partnership Branch -
- Partner Associations
- AGOG (Guatemala)
- AOGU (Uganda)
- SHOG (Haiti)
- Goal To strengthen the capacity of partner
associations to increase their contribution to
maternal mortality reduction initiatives and
sexual and reproductive health. -
- Main Activities
- Build institutional capacity
- Develop local capacity to promote and deliver
ALARM International Program CME - Increased capacity re SRR approach
14SIWH Program ALARM International
- Countries of intervention
- Benin
- Gabon
- Guatemala
- Haiti
- India
- Indonesia
- Kosovo
- Mali
- Mexico
- the Philippines
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
- Yemen
15SIWH Program ALARM International Program
- A training /mobilizing tool to reduce maternal
and newborn mortality and morbidity in developing
countries - Modification of the Advances in Labor and Risk
Management (ALARM) Course developed in Canada and
still used in - Emphasis on the concepts of sexual and
reproductive rights and maternal audits
16SIWH Program ALARM International Program 2005
- A training /mobilizing tool to reduce maternal
and newborn mortality and morbidity in developing
countries through a three year initiative - Develop capacity at the professional association
level so they will be a credible partner for
their government in reproductive health at the
nation, regional and local level - Continuing emphasis on the concepts of sexual and
reproductive rights and maternal audits
17SIWH Program Partners /Supporters
- Other institutional Partners / Supporters
- Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
- Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief (CPAR)
- Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA)
- International Federation of Obstetrics and
Gyneacology (FIGO) - International Confederation of Midwives (ICM)
- Jorge Scientific (Sub-contractor, USAID)
- Université de Sherbrooke
- Université de Montréal, Unité de santé
internationale
18SIWH Program In Support of FIGOs Activities
- SOGC contributed to the following
- FIGOs Professional and Ethical Responsibilities
Concerning Sexual and Reproductive Rights
(November 2003) - Developed by Dr. Dorothy Shaw (Vancouver),
President Elect, FIGO - ICM / FIGOs Joint Statement on the Management of
the third Stage of Labour to Prevent Post-partum
Haemorrhage (November 2003) - Developed in Ottawa July 2003
- WHO / FIGO and ICMs Joint Statement on Skilled
Attendants (November 2004) - FIGO/ICM Saving the Mothers and Newborn Health
Initiative - Dr. A Lalonde, Co-Chair
19SOGC In the World In Support of FIGOs
Activities
- SOGC active within
- The Partnership for Safe Motherhood and Newborn
Health - Dr. A Lalonde, Co-Chair, County Implementation
Strategy - Other WHO/UNFPA or other technical meetings on
the issue
20SIWH Program Domestic Activities
- SOGC Participated in the following
- CIDAs review of HIV/AIDS Strategy (Dec. 04)
- Foreign Affair Canadas review of HIV AIDS
Strategy (Jan. 05) - CIDAs consultation related to the Commission for
Africa (Dec. 04) - CIDAs discussion/activities related to
collaboration between Canadian NGOs and Haitian
Diaspora
21SIWH Program Domestic Activities
- SOGC Participated in the following
- Action Canada for Population and Development,
policy consultation regarding the need for
greater integration / collaboration between
HIV/AIDS and sexual and reproductive health.
22SIWH Program Domestic Activities
- SOGC Participated in the World Health Day and
World Health Report 2005 - Making Every Mother and Child Count
Partner Agencies for the World Health Day
Initiative Planned Parenthood Federation of
Canada (PPFC) Action Canada for Population and
Development (ACPD) Care Canada Canadian Society
for International Health
23SIWH Program Volunteers
International Womens Health Committee
- Dr. F. Pauls, MD (Chair)
- Dr. F. Beaudoin, MD
- Dr. K. E. Boisvert, MD
- Ms C. Cameron, RM
- Dr. R. R. Cepeda, MD
- Dr. J. Chamberlain, MD
- Dr. J. Chouinard, MD
- Dr. R. Cooke, MD
- Dr. A Dumont, MD
Dr. R. Hale, MD (Corresponding) Dr. J. M.
Mannerfeldt, MD Dr. B. OBrien, MD Dr. R.
Pellizzari, MD Senator Lucie Pépin
(Corresponding) Dr. A. C. Tennent, MD Ms. L.
Perron (SOGC Coordinator)
24SIWH Program Volunteers
ALARM / GESTA International Committee
- Dr. F. Pauls, MD (Chair)
- Dr. F, Beaudoin, MD
- Dr. G. Brunet, MD
- Ms C. Cameron, MD
- Dr. R. R. Cepeda, MD
- Dr. J. Chamberlain, MD
- Dr. J. M. Mannerfeldt, MD
- Ms. S. Plourde (SOGC Coordinator)
25Conclusion
- Experience of SOGC on international arena is
growing. - Unique role of ob/gyn associations with the ALARM
International Program. - Leadership role of ob/gyn associations has been
tested essential role in reducing maternal and
newborn mortality and morbidity. - Multiplication of international safe motherhood
and newborn health initiatives brings hope.
26For more information
Visit our website at www.sogc.org Contact L.
Perron, Program Manager at lperron_at_sogc.com or at
SOGC National Office (Ottawa, Canada)