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International Federation of
FIGO
FIGO Gynecology and Obstetrics
communications@figo.org
www.figo.org December 2012
‘Working together towards the
common goal of improving sexual
and reproductive health’
– new FIGO President in global rallying call
should fail in my duty if I did not also thank my Melinda Gates Foundation, an anonymous donor,
wife, Gayatri, and my children, Shankari, Ford Foundation, and others. I am extremely
Nishkantha, and Kailash. grateful to them and look forward to their
My theme over the next three years is not a new continued support. There are others such as
one; it is to ‘continue to work together’ during the UNFPA, the World Bank, UNICEF, and industry
period 2012 to 2015. FIGO will continue to build partnership that are essential for FIGO to
on the good work completed so far and will work function. I would like to thank the staff of FIGO
on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and its partner organisations for helping us to
and reproductive health issues. come this far.
There are several issues of concern: maternal Principles that govern success
health (ie morbidity and mortality), preterm births, There are five principles behind recent success
stillbirths, subfertility, cancer, domestic violence, stories.
female genital mutilation, fistula, and sexual and 1. Governments have to make saving mothers
reproductive health. In addition to carrying out a national priority and strengthen the
activities in these areas, I will focus on maternal existing coalition.
mortality, stillbirth, unmet need for family 2. Focus should be given to selected issues
planning, and safe abortion care. FIGO will also rather than trying to target too many
continue with some emphasis on HIV/AIDS, and activities.
its other activities will continue. These activities 3. Ownership at the grass-roots level must be
cannot be conducted by FIGO alone and we will strengthened.
work in collaboration with a number of national 4. Continuous innovation and maximisation of
organisations and governments. available resources.
The essential partners that have helped FIGO 5. Accountability by measuring outcomes to
over the years include the World Health strive for continued improvement.
Organization (WHO), the Partnership for Whatever the projects, FIGO will need to abide
Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, Family by these five principles if we are to succeed.
Professor Sir Sabaratnam Arulkumaran, FIGO President Health International (FHI), the International Whether we are going to provide safe abortion
Confederation of Midwives (ICM), the care, reduce stillbirths, or provide contraception,
Dear Colleagues International Paediatric Association (IPA), the we must get the support of government. We
I would like to thank Professor Gamal Serour International Confederation of Nurses (ICN), the need to innovate as to how best we can
for the tremendous job he has done in leading International Planned Parenthood Federation implement contraception, provide the ownership
FIGO over the past three years. To the FIGO (IPPF), EngenderHealth, and Gynuity; in addition to the women, provide the needed care, and be
membership and the national societies, I am to donors such as USAID, UKAID, the Bill and accountable.
most grateful to you for having the trust in me
and providing the mandate for me to be FIGO Strengthen existing coalitions
President. The Officers and the Executive Here we can learn from the FIGO LOGIC project,
Board members have worked extremely well the aim of which is to strengthen the national
with the Chief Executive, the Administrative societies. The project has been able to link a
Director, the staff, and with the national professional society with the government and
societies over the last several decades. They establish a good working relationship with
have brought FIGO to its current position, Ministries of Health. The project will continue until
which is recognised globally. On behalf of FIGO October 2013. FIGO will try to encompass other
I would like to acknowledge our colleagues and
the people of Italy who have welcomed us. I continued on page 2
FIGO welcomes new President | UNFPA Chief highlights MDG challenge |
CONGRESS
Launch of African Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (AFOG)
SPECIAL ISSUE | ‘Why Did Mrs X Die, Retold’ premiere
International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics | December 2012 1

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New FIGO President in global rallying call organisations for help with training. We must also
Continued from page 1 build public/private partnership within countries.
Most of all we have to work with our fellow
societies to build a South–South collaboration. families, and the community? The charity professional organisations – midwifery, nursing,
Focus will be given to items that are most ‘Women and Children First’ has been working paediatric, and anaesthetic organisations.
needed in a particular country, such as with several local organisations in countries to
reductions in deaths from haemorrhage, unsafe mobilise the community to come together every Conclusion
abortion, or hypertensive disorders. During my few weeks. This has been shown to be effective
By doing what we plan to do, not only will we
term of office, I want to concentrate on how best in reducing child and maternal mortality and
tackle MDG 5 but we will also tackle MDG 1,
to resolve unmet need for family planning (MDG morbidity. FIGO hopes to participate to see how
which is poverty. If a woman effectively uses
5b). Voluntary family spacing with postpartum we can activate the community along with the
contraception and is not going to have a baby for
family planning programmes including long- national and regional societies to make the
two or three years, she will have time to work and
acting reversible contraceptives might be the key impact even stronger.
earn money. She will have time to look after the
for mothers attending for delivery at a health Community mobilisation is part of the ‘maternity baby and the child for primary education (MDG
facility. We should take that opportunity and ecosystem.’ Key issues concern healthcare 2); she will take the children to school and once
provide whatever contraceptive method is delivery, availability, acceptability, affordability, and they are educated, they can become equal
desired. appropriateness. The issues involved are the partners with men (MDG 3). She will also take the
Focus on a few selected issues hospital or health facility, the community or the children for vaccinations and resolve any child
home, and the financial and physical barriers. We health problems (MDG 4). If she has five children
Safe abortion care need to prioritise the services we want to in five years, she will not be able to accomplish
Globally, it is estimated that there are 210 million strengthen; for example, contraceptive services this. Hence, it is crucial that we advise about
pregnancies and 40 million abortions, half of or abortion services or emergency obstetric care.
which are unsafe. About 70,000 women die as a family spacing to achieve MDGs 1 to 5. Tackling
We need to have a dialogue to see how these MDG 5 will resolve many underlying issues. MDG
result of septic abortion and five million are barriers can be overcome by strengthening the
admitted with complications. We have to work on 5 can be tackled to a great extent by
national societies. In Sri Lanka, where I come concentrating on contraception and safe abortion
the principles of primary, secondary, and tertiary from, having community midwives provide
prevention by making contraceptives and care.
prenatal and postnatal care and contraception
emergency contraception available, by making has worked effectively. These successful models I would like to finish with two quotes. The first is
abortion a safe procedure, and by providing need to be exploited and FIGO will explore these from Professor Thoraya Obaid, former Executive
postabortion contraception. We should work issues with ICM. Director of UNFPA, who said: ‘It keeps startling
toward reducing the vast majority of unsafe me that at the beginning of the 21st century, at a
abortions occurring in low-resource countries. At Continuous innovation and time when we can explore the depths of the sea
the FIGO Pre-Congress Workshop, six maximising resources and build an international space station, we have
recommendations were made as to how best to not been able to make childbirth safe for all
The fourth principle of success is to continually women around the world. This is one of the
provide safe abortion permitted by law. This
innovate to maximise available resources. In
information will be disseminated to FIGO’s greatest social deficiencies of our time.’ This is a
Mozambique, training of surgical assistants to
national societies. fact and this tragedy is happening every year. The
perform caesarean deliveries has been
Contraception reason for this tragedy was spelt out many years
successful. There are other good examples. We
A total of 222 million women have an unmet need ago by Professor Mahmoud Fathalla, a Past
have to maximise available resources and devise
for contraception. Contraception can help to President of FIGO, who said: ‘Women are not
different ways of working. For example, offering
reduce 10% of child mortality and 30%–50% of dying because of diseases we cannot treat. They
postpartum and postabortion contraception is a
abortion. The Pre-Congress Workshop produced are dying because societies have yet to make the
great opportunity or situation that has to be used
a strategy detailing how we can make this work decision that their lives are worth saving.’
maximally and effectively.
through the national societies. The Resolution We have to spend time and money to derive the
that was passed by the General Assembly will be Accountability maximal impact. I want everyone here to commit
posted on the FIGO website. There are certain The final principle is accountability. We have to to make this a personal priority. Ensure you can
strategies that we will implement. We would like measure what we are doing and the outcomes. If make a compelling case for change and get
to include family planning in general nurse and we cannot measure, we cannot improve on what inspired by others’ success. With inspiration,
midwifery training. We will engage general we do. FIGO will measure the outcomes of the commitment and collaboration we can save more
practitioners and primary care providers. We shall projects it undertakes and disseminate the lives.
develop a standard FIGO model curriculum for information in a useful way. My very best wishes.
family planning and will engage the national
societies to disseminate this information. We will Working in partnership
work to facilitate task shifting; for example in As mentioned, there are a number of tasks and
India, abortion is legal but the number of facilities FIGO cannot do it alone. We need the help of
and providers are not enough and women seek advocacy groups such as the White Ribbon Professor Sir Sabaratnam Arulkumaran
abortion from providers who are not qualified. Alliance, policy makers like WHO, facilitators such FIGO President (2012–2015)
as the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and
Strengthening community Child Health; we need advisors and technical
This is an edited extract from the inaugural address given by
Professor Sir Sabaratnam Arulkumaran at the XX FIGO World
ownership: ‘Maternity ecosystem’ support, such as JPHEIGO; we need the help of Congress, Rome, Italy, 12 October, 2012.
Strengthening ownership at the grass-roots level donors – the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, The full text will be available in the March issue of IJGO: Int J
is vital. What can we do to mobilise women, USAID, UKAID – and we need nongovernmental Gynecol Obstet 2013;120(3):XX–XX.
The new FIGO President and Immediate Past-President, with Past Presidents: S Arulkumaran, G Serour, M Fathalla, D Shaw, S Sheth, A Acosta, J Sciarra
2 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics | December 2012

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CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S OVERVIEW
Dear Colleagues participated were immensely grateful for the
opportunity to sharpen their professional
Our Congress in Rome is over, and I would like to education, and take back home with them much
extend my sincere thanks to everyone who made needed new knowledge on the latest
it such a success. The feedback we have developments in the field of obstetrics and
received from delegates has been superb. FIGO gynecology.
attracted 8,000 visitors from over 170 countries –
a tremendous attendance. Our Scientific
Programme was commended for its exceptional
breadth and the calibre of its speakers. The event
was a wonderful opportunity to touch base with
our existing global colleagues, and also to meet
Health Systems Research, Beijing, China (31
many new ones for the first time – I am pleased
October–3 November), where I was asked by Dr
to report that many fresh developments have
Mubashar Sheikh, Executive Director of the
arisen for FIGO in the weeks following the
Global Health Workforce, to represent FIGO in a
Congress, and we greatly look forward to
panel session entitled: ‘Skills mix to achieve
consolidating new ideas and strategies with
universal health coverage: a global systematic
global collaborators.
review and country case studies on roles and
The Congress gave a As experience has proved, three years is not a impact of mid-level health workers’. This
platform to many voices, long time in the field of event planning, and it will discussed issues relating to task-shifting/sharing
but I am especially pleased certainly not be long before the next Congress is to tackle the massive shortage of health care
and proud that the remake upon us – Vancouver 2015 promises to be workers.
of the World Health equally exciting, and work has already begun in In early November, I was invited to Paris by the
Organization’s iconic 1980s earnest. We are greatly looking forward to International Menopause Society to participate in
film ‘Why Did Mrs X Die?’ progressing the planning of Congress activities an ‘International Workshop for the development
took place at our Opening with Dr Jennifer Blake, the new Chief Executive of a Global Consensus on HRT’. Later in the
Ceremony. It was indeed an Officer of the Society of Obstetricians and month I represented FIGO at the 60th
honour to welcome Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC), one of Anniversary of the IPPF which was celebrated in
Professor Mahmoud FIGO’s highly valued collaborators. Johannesburg, South Africa. I wish to
Fathalla, a pioneer in the Safe Motherhood
congratulate the IPPF on its years of commitment
movement, and a former FIGO President, to the
to sexual and reproductive healthcare and rights.
proceedings – without his involvement and
Its work in these all-important fields is unrivalled,
valuable input this project could not have been
and it commands enormous respect from
achieved. Special thanks must of course go to
collaborating organisations across the world.
Professor Gwyneth Lewis and Amy Gadney, of
Hands On for Mothers and Babies Activities in early 2013 will include attending the
(www.handsonformothersandbabies.org) for LOGIC Initiative’s Technical Advisory Group (TAG)
their dedication and commitment to this January meeting in Arusha, Tanzania, followed by
enterprise, from conception to final delivery! presenting at the Second International Congress
on Women’s Health and Unsafe Abortion
Another ‘first’ for the Congress was the launch of
IWAC2013) in Bangkok, Thailand.
the new African Federation of Obstetrics and
Gynecology (AFOG), a Federation that has taken The 2013 FIGO diary is already filling up with
Travels have been brisk of late. Just before
many years to materialise for our African many collaborative activities, and I look forward
Rome, I was invited by the International Planned
colleagues. Under the able leadership of its newly to reporting on them in due course. In the
Parenthood Federation (IPPF) to participate in a
elected President, Dr Yirgu Gebrehiwot (President meantime, I wish to thank you all for your great
‘High Level Expert Consultation on Islam and
of the Ethiopian Society of Obstetricians & support of FIGO at the end of what has been an
Women’s Health’ in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Gynecologists – ESOG), the Federation will hold exceptionally busy and challenging year. I am
(22–24 September). The range of challenges
its first Officers’ meeting in Brazzaville, February looking forward to working closely with our new
impacting young women and girls in particular
2013, hosted by WHO. I look forward to President, Professor Sir Sabaratnam
across our Muslim-populated countries is
reporting on its progress. Arulkumaran, Officers and Executive Board. I
significant, and the conference focused on the
naturally extend my sincere thanks to Past-
I am particularly pleased that FIGO was able to progress made in countries and regions based
President Professor Gamal Serour for his superb
provide a significant number of Fellowships to on international, regional and country initiatives –
overseeing of FIGO over the past three years,
professionals from low- and middle-resource including the UN Secretary General’s ‘Global
and to the outgoing Officers and Executive Board
countries, thanks to the generosity of Strategy for Women and Children’s Health’ – and
members who have made immense contributions
collaborators the United States Agency for also on identifying challenges, gaps and barriers
to the promotion of FIGO’s work.
International Development (USAID) and Marie and possible solutions to help accelerate
Stopes International (MSI). I know that many who women’s health in Muslim-populated countries. I wish you and your families a peaceful Christmas
The meeting came out with the Kuala Lumpur and New Year break.
Declaration, which made excellent My very best wishes.
recommendations for the promotion of women’s
health and rights in Muslim communities.
Directly after the Congress, I attended the 13th
Executive Board Meeting of the Partnership for
Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH) in
Abuja, Nigeria (15–20 October). The meeting
discussed reports and workplans for 2013. I also Professor Hamid Rushwan
attended the Second Global Symposium on FIGO Chief Executive
International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics
FIGO House President-Elect: Administrative Director:
Waterloo Court, 10 Theed Street Professor Chittaranjan Narahari Purandare (India) Bryan Thomas
London SE1 8ST, UK Past-President: Readers are invited to send all comments, articles and
Tel: +44 20 7928 1166 Professor Gamal Serour (Egypt) reports (by email to communications@figo.org or on
Fax: +44 20 7928 7099 disk) to the FIGO Secretariat no later than 1 March
Email: figo@figo.org Vice President:
Professor Ernesto Castelazo Morales (Mexico) 2013 for the next issue.
The International Federation of Gynecology and The views expressed in articles in the FIGO Newsletter
Obstetrics is a UK Registered Charity (No 1113263; Honorary Secretary:
Professor Gian Carlo Di Renzo (Italy) are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect
Company No 5498067) registered in England and the official viewpoint of FIGO.
Wales. The Registered Office is shown above. Honorary Treasurer:
Professor Wolfgang Holzgreve (Switzerland) Produced and edited by the FIGO Secretariat © FIGO
President: 2012.
Professor Sir Sabaratnam Arulkumaran Chief Executive:
(United Kingdom) Professor Hamid Rushwan (Sudan/UK) (Ex-offico)
International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics | December 2012 3

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‘FIGO OBJECTIVES ON TRACK FOR 2015’
Professor Gamal Serour speaks
at Rome 2012
Colleagues, during the There is a huge unmet need of RSH information
past three years, I have and services for young people, particularly
had the honour and adolescent girls. Dr Babatunde Osotimehin,
pleasure to humbly UNFPA Executive Director, said: ‘Today
serve as President of pregnancy and childbirth related complications
FIGO. It has been an are the major causes of death among girls 10–19
enriching and years old in most developing countries.’
rewarding experience 2010–2012 have been highly successful years for
Some FIGO representatives with Congress staff
for me, and thank you campaigning and commitments for the
for your trust. members; Chairs and Members of FIGO improvement of maternal and newborn health,
In my inaugural address in Cape Town, October Committees and Working Groups; and my with the launch of several initiatives including the
2009, I said: ‘FIGO, building upon its past secretarial staff, particularly Mr Bryan Thomas Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s
achievements, is undertaking a change – a and Mrs Marie-Christine Szatybelko at FIGO HQ, Health; the ‘Every Woman, Every Child’ Initiative;
change that will make FIGO more visible and and Mrs Azza El Tobgi and Mrs Gihan El Feki in the Muskoka Initiative; and the ground-breaking
palpable to obstetricians and gynecologists the Cairo office: you have all shown outstanding London summit on Family Planning in July, calling
around the globe, particularly those in low- and exceptional commitment, enthusiasm, for unprecedented international political
resource countries.’ I have worked tirelessly over volunteerism and dedication which I greatly commitment and resources to pledge US$4.6
the past three years to fulfil my promises. The treasure. billion to provide an additional 120 million women
core of my change was education and training of in the world’s poorest countries with
obstetricians and gynecologists, and capacity contraception by the year 2020.
building of member societies in developing Martin Luther King Jr said: ‘Of all the forms of
countries. inequality, injustice in health care is the most
In Cape Town I proposed an 8-point *workplan to shocking and inhumane.’
enable FIGO to play its role as a leading global Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General, said: ‘By
professional organisation in women’s health. giving mothers to be the services they need
Today I can confidently say that I am delighted to before, during and after pregnancy and by
see this ambitious workplan implemented, and in providing quality health care to all women, we
I also say to various UN organisations, global
a sustainable way. can save lives, prevent suffering and accelerate
NGOs, sister professional organisations and
medical industries: you all, through your support progress towards all the MDGs.’
*The 8-Point Plan and our collaborative efforts, helped FIGO to play I say to mothers, sisters and daughters who have
1: Advocacy, partnerships, and the role it is supposed to fulfil to the best of its needlessly lost their lives and the many more
commitments ability. Thank you so much for your support. women who have suffered injuries during
2: Continuing with ongoing projects The number of women dying in pregnancy and pregnancy and childbirth: please forgive us,
3: Establishing a Committee for Capacity childbirth annually at long last declined in 2010 to because some of our societies failed to value
Building in Education and Training the figure of 287,000 maternal deaths, a global your life. FIGO has joined forces to minimise this
4: Establishing a Committee for decline of 47 per cent since 1990. However, this happening again to current and future
Reproductive Medicine is not enough to achieve MDG 5a by 2015. For generations, and to share in saving the lives of 16
5: Optimising utilisation of FIGO every woman who dies, around 20 more suffer million women and children by 2015. Rest
Committees and Working Groups and near-miss and complications which jeopardise assured that women will no longer be the silent
their outcomes to increase their the quality of their lives. Ninety-eight per cent of victims and unheard voices of substandard
visibility all these deaths and morbidities occur in health care.
6: Ethics curriculum development in developing countries and are mostly preventable. Today, more than ever before, we have the
reproductive and sexual health for Contraception alone can prevent 30 per cent of political commitment, knowledge, knowhow,
low-resource countries maternal deaths. capacity and committed resources to make a
7: Improving the management, significant stride in saving the lives of women and
communication, and involvement of newborns.
member societies and regional
To all those involved in the preparation of this
federations
Congress: thank you for your unyielding efforts,
8: Strengthening collaboration with UN
dedication and determination to make it a real
organisations, world federations,
success, and for your continuing efforts during
NGOs, FBOs and the private sector
the coming five days to make it one of the most
[*Please also refer to Professor Serour’s Introduction in enjoyable and memorable Congresses in FIGO’s
the FIGO Three-Year Report 2009–2012, available on President’s Session press conference: L–R: Professor
http://www.figo.org/publications] history.
Serour; Dr Paul De Lay (UNAIDS); Dr Flavia Bustreo (WHO);
Dr Babatunde Osotimehin (UNFPA) To my family, patients and Al Azhar University:
Colleagues, I have been privileged to work thank you so much for your continuous support
Today there are 222 million couples with unmet and sacrifice, which has enabled me to fulfil my
alongside an excellent hardworking team towards need of modern contraceptives in the developing
a common goal, directing individual duties as FIGO President to the best of my ability
world. Providing these unmet needs of over the past three years.
accomplishments towards organisational contraceptives would prevent 21 million
objectives. We had the necessary ‘fuel’ that unplanned births, 26 million abortions, 79,000 The good news is that, at 1pm on Friday 12
allowed common people to attain uncommon maternal deaths, and 1.1 million infant deaths. October, the baton will be picked up by Professor
results. Indeed, Margaret Chan, the Director-General of Sir Sabaratnam Arulkumaran, the incoming FIGO
It is most appropriate for me to say now to all the World Health Organization, said: ‘Family President, and then I will have much more time
FIGO Past Presidents who inspired me; to my planning deserves a much higher place in the for you …hopefully!
Fellow FIGO Officers; the FIGO Chief Executive international health agenda, especially in My very best wishes to all.
Professor Hamid Rushwan; Executive Board countries where fertility and unmet need are
high.’
We should not forget that annually there are 340
million new curable STIs, mostly in the 20–24 age
group, resulting in 1.8 million AIDS-related
deaths, and 275,000 cancer of the cervix related Professor Gamal Serour
deaths. Three million girls and women are FIGO Immediate Past President
subjected to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and This is an edited version of the speech delivered by
50,000–100,000 develop obstetric fistula Professor Gamal Serour at the Congress Opening
annually. Ceremony
4 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics | December 2012

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CONGRESS NEWS
UNFPA Chief opens FIGO Congress,
highlighting challenge of MDGs
An extract from UNFPA Executive Director Dr Babatunde Osotimehin’s speech
We are inaugurating this XX FIGO Congress of health, especially access to emergency obstetric
Gynecology and Obstetrics two and a half care and skilled birth attendants, and STI Women obstetrician/
years before the world will hit the deadline prevention, including prevention of HIV – in the
agreed by world leaders to reach the same place, at the same time, by the same
gynecologists
Millennium Development Goals. Although great provider. By doing this, we will support recognised at FIGO
progress has been achieved in several of the strengthening health systems at all levels, but General Assembly
goals, the one that concerns obstetricians and especially at the grass-roots level, close to where
gynecologists the most, Goal 5 on improving women live. It is there we have our major gap in In 1997, for the first time, FIGO presented a
maternal health, is lagging behind in many human resources for health. There are not number of Awards in Recognition of Women
countries of the developing world. Women, enough providers in places near to and Obstetricians/Gynecologists to doctors,
especially poor women, still die while pregnant immediately accessible to women. nominated by their peers, who had made a
or in childbirth, often of preventable causes. special contribution internationally or
To realise the MDGs, governments need to take nationally to promote the development of
One woman dies every responsibility for the public health needs of their science and scientific research in the fields of
two minutes giving citizens, for maternal health, family planning, gynecology and obstetrics; and who,
birth or in pregnancy. sexual health, in the only equitable manner throughout their career, had promoted better
These are preventable that works – by providing publicly funded, healthcare for women, mothers and their
deaths. Let us be well-resourced services and by adding health children.
honest: these are workers in those places that lack them. We
should make sure that we give a definite solution The awards were
women that could have officially presented
been saved if one of us to the most challenging gap of a functioning
health system, that is, its workforce shortage, as an inclusive part
could have assisted of the Rome 2012
them in their pregnancy quality and equitable distribution. We all know
that a health system that can prevent maternal General Assembly,
Dr Babatunde Osotimehin and delivery, or could to highlight their
have provided them with contraceptives, or death is a functioning system.
importance.
attended to complications arising from pregnancy Addressing the human resources for the health
or childbirth. shortage gap will require innovative ideas, The recipients
comprehensive solutions. It is not enough to train were described by
Much more work needs to be done to meet the Professor Gamal
more health workers if policies do not address
MDG targets. Gynecologists, obstetricians and Serour during the
this issue in a comprehensive way, if the number
midwives are the most natural professional awards ceremony
of health workers that drop out of the system
partners, together with governments, multilateral once they are trained is around 50 percent as is as ‘prime
organisations, civil society and women the case in some countries in Africa; the reason representatives of
themselves, to push hard on actions towards is because there are not enough work incentives female practitioners
achieving the health-related MDGs, particularly for them to remain employed. UNFPA looks in their home
MDG5. forward to working closely with professional A recipient nations’.
We must work together to meet this achievable associations like FIGO and the International FIGO’s congratulations extend to: Professor
goal. But in order to do so, we should ensure Confederation of Midwives, along with other UN Kohinoor Begum (Bangladesh); Dr Sylvia
that women and adolescent girls have access to agencies like UNICEF, WHO, UNAIDS, UN Ayeley Deganus (Ghana); Professor Kristina
sexual and reproductive health services in an Women and the World Bank to address these Gemzell Danielsson (Sweden); Dr Vesna I
integrated way, that they receive these services issues together. Kesic (Serbia, Montenegro and Republic of
– voluntary high-quality family planning, maternal (printed with kind permission from UNFPA) Srpska); Dr Lucy Lopez Reyes (Peru); Dra
Blanca Rosa Manzano Ovies (Cuba); Dra
Técia Maria de Oliveira Maranhão (Brazil); Dr
FIGO honours figureheads in global Kamini Rao (India); Dr Duria Abdellewahab
Mohammed Rayis (Sudan); and Dr Sudha
maternal and newborn health Sharma (Nepal).
The FIGO Congress Opening Ceremony is traditionally the occasion on
which to feature the series of awards traditionally made to obstetrician/
gynecologists who have excelled in their service to FIGO or to women’s
health. Awards are also given to highly distinguished people outside this
profession who have performed a service to women’s health.
In Rome, Professor Hamid Rushwan presented FIGO Distinguished Merit
Awards to Dr Ralph Hale, former Executive Vice-President of the
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and a Professor Chiara Benedetto
member of the FIGO Executive Board for many years; Dr Sergio Pecorelli, (EBCOG President), Master
former Chair of FIGO’s Committee on Gynecologic Oncology, and former of Ceremonies
Editor of the highly influential FIGO Annual Report on the Results of Treatment in Gynecologic
Cancer; and Dr Duru Shah, who represents FOGSI at FIGO and is also a member of FIGO’s Ethics
Committee.
FIGO’s second awards category, the FIGO Recognition Awards, honoured Michelle Bachelet, Professor Gamal Serour presenting the award to Dr
former President of Chile, and the first Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Kamini Rao (India), a former Chair of the FIGO
Committee for Women’s Sexual and Reproductive
Women; Sarah Brown, CEO of the Office of Gordon and Sarah Brown, and Global Patron of the Rights
White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood; and Jill Sheffield, founder and president of Women
Deliver, and former president of Family Care International.
L–R: Professor Gamal Serour, Dr Duru Shah, Dr Sergio
Pecorelli, Dr Ralph Hale and Sarah Brown Professor Serour with Jill Sheffield Some of the award recipients
International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics | December 2012 5

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CONGRESS NEWS
New African Federation of Obstetrics and
Gynaecology (AFOG) launched at Congress
A new African Federation of Obstetrics and Professor Hamid Rushwan commented: ‘This is
Gynaecology (AFOG) was launched at a an enormous achievement for all of the FIGO adopts new
historic meeting during the Rome Congress on obstetricians and gynecologists in Africa, who
8 October 2012. Over 20 national societies and have been working hard towards the
General Assembly
a host of interested observers attended the establishment of a pan-African body to bring Resolution at Rome
meeting, which was chaired by Chief Executive them together and target the improvement of 2012
Professor Hamid Rushwan. women’s health in the region, and the science
and practice of obstetrics and gynecology. During Rome 2012, a Resolution on
Remarks were given by Professor Joseph
‘Unmet Need for Voluntary Contraception’
Karanja, ECSAOGS President; Professor Eusèbe ‘I encourage all societies in the African region to was approved, which can be accessed at
Alihonou, SAGO’s First and Past-President; give AFOG full support and to work hard towards http://www.figo.org/projects/general,
Professor E Maaouni, Maghreb Federation building a strong regional body that will help along with previous Resolutions.
President; and Professor Bomi Ogedengbe, West promote the importance of women’s health in
African College of Surgeons President. They Africa.’
outlined the work of their organisations and their
ready support for the establishment of an African
Regional Federation. ‘Professional associations
Special inaugural addresses were given by Dr must play major part in
Luis Sambo, Regional Director, WHO AFRO and tackling MDGs’, concludes
Professor Gamal Serour, FIGO Past-President.
The Constitution of the new Federation was President’s Session 2012
endorsed, and elections took place to select the A traditional Congress highlight, the ‘President’s
Federation’s Officers and decide on the location Session’ – which this year focused on ‘The Role
of its Secretariat. of Professional Organisations in Accelerating
Elected Officers: Progress on Health-Related Millennium
• President: Dr Yirgu Development Goals’ – took place in front of a
Gebrehiwot, (Ethiopia) packed audience on the first day of the Babatunde Osotimehin (Executive Director,
• Vice President: Professor Congress. UNFPA); Dr Luis Sambo (Regional Director for
Eusèbe Alihonou (Benin) The panel – introduced by Sarah Brown, CEO of Africa, WHO); Professor Gamal Serour (Past
• President Elect: Professor the Office of Gordon and Sarah Brown, and President, FIGO); Professor Jill Sheffield
Oladapo Ladipo (Nigeria) Global Patron of the White Ribbon Alliance for (President, Women Deliver); and Dr Paul De Lay
• Honorary Secretary: Dr Safe Motherhood – was comprised of major (Deputy Executive Director, Programme,
Amir Elnahas (Sudan) The figures in global maternal and newborn health: Dr UNAIDS).
Secretariat will be housed Flavia Bustreo (Assistant Director General, Family Questions posed – moderated by Dr Joanna
by the Obstetrical & and Community Health, WHO); Professor Sergio Cain – covered the role and importance of
Dr Yirgu Gebrehiwot, Gynaecological Society Augusto Cabral (President, IPA); Frances Day- professional organisations in achieving the
new AFOG President of the Sudan Stirk (President, ICM); Professor Paul Howell health-related Millennium Development Goals,
• Honorary Treasurer: Professor Bhaskar Goolab (President, Obstetric Anaesthetists Association the challenges faced, and how professional
(South Africa) and Chair of Obstetric Committee, WFSA); Dr organisations can be promoted in this respect.
LOGIC at the Congress
The Leadership in Obstetrics & Gynaecology for Impact and Change to the MoH, including on MDRs, emergency obstetric care, and long-
(LOGIC) Initiative in Maternal and Newborn Health (MNH) is supporting lasting contraceptives.
eight FIGO Member Associations in their endeavours to improve MNH • NESOG (Nepal) has successfully improved communication with its
policy/clinical practice and their organisational capacities. members, including via their website, text messages, Facebook and
FIGO LOGIC organised two successful sessions at the XX FIGO World distribution of a newsletter and an academic journal.
Congress: one session on the implementation of facility-based Maternal • AOGU (Uganda) has used Maternal and Perinatal Death Review data to
Death Reviews (MDRs) and Near Miss Reviews (NMRs)1 in low-resource advocate for increased resources for MNH and improvements in
countries, and one session on organisational capacity strengthening of services. For example, in collaboration with partners, AOGU helped
professional associations in obstetrics and gynecology. influence the Ugandan government to increase funding for reproductive
health by 30 per cent.
MDRs/NMRs
Launch of FIGO LOGIC Toolkit
• ESOG (Ethiopia) shared their analysis of MDR/NMR data from nine
public hospitals and reported on improved maternal health services, FIGO LOGIC has developed, in collaboration with the Society of
including improved availability of health workers, blood and ambulances. Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC), an electronic Toolkit
• SOGON (Nigeria) is working with Government authorities and other with organisational capacity strengthening resources and tools for health
partners to agree on the way forward for implementing MDRs in Nigeria, professional associations.
including guidelines, protocols and tools. The Toolkit brings together a collection of information,
• SOGOC (Cameroon) has provided MDR resources and tools for anyone interested in fostering
training and set up Committees in five organisational change within a health professional association,
hospitals as well as developed guidelines and either through the conduct of occasional activities or by
summary tools. initiating a more thorough capacity building process.
• SOGOB (Burkina Faso) is working with the Using the Toolkit will lead to better understanding of what
Ministry of Health (MoH) and other partners to makes an organisation strong; what the different elements of
roll-out MDRs nationally in Burkina Faso. organisational capacity building are; how a change process
Organisational capacity can be initiated; and how practical activities can be International
Federation
conducted to support such change processes.
of Gynecology
and Obstetrics
Electronic toolk
strengthening Strengthening it on
Organisat
Capacity of Heal ional
Dr Segun Adeoye, LOGIC • FOGSI (India) has developed into a successful The Toolkit is available in English, French and Spanish at Professional th
Associations
Project Manager with the professional association over the last 60 www.figo-toolkit.org Fédération interna
de gynécologie
Trousse d’out
tionale
et d’obstétriqu
ils élect
e
sur le renforcem ronique
Society of Gynaecology and ent des
Obstetrics of Nigeria
years. It is represented on numerous 1 A facility-based MDR is a “qualitative, in-depth investigation of the
capacités orga
nisationnelles
des associatio
ns de
professionnels
(SOGON), carries the FIGO Government of India bodies, and has 216 causes of and circumstances surrounding maternal deaths” in health de la santé
Federación Intern
LOGIC banner member societies and 27,000 members. facilities, while a NMR is the “identification and assessment of cases in de Ginecología
Serie de Herra
acional
y Obstetricia
mientas sobre
which pregnant women survive obstetric complications” (Lewis, el Fortalecim
iento de la
• AMOG (Mozambique) has gone through an extensive strategic planning Gwyneth, 2003. ”Beyond the Numbers: reviewing maternal deaths and
Capacidad Orga
de las Asociacio
nizacional
nes de
Profesionales
process, which has enabled the association to engage constructively complications to make pregnancy safer”, British Medical Bulletin 2003;
de la Salud
with partners. Achievements include the provision of technical expertise 67: 27–37, The British Council, 2003.) Toolkit bookmark
6 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics | December 2012

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CONGRESS NEWS
‘Why did Mrs X Die, Retold’ Unveiling ‘The FIGO
– remake of WHO film Global attention for Fertility Tool Box™’:
premiered at Rome 2012 2012 World Report on Facilitating the
‘Why Did Mrs X Die, Retold’ – a short animated
Women’s Health achievement of universal
film telling the story of one unfortunate woman’s
journey through pregnancy and childbirth – was access to reproductive
launched at the FIGO World Congress in Rome health
on 7 October 2012. The FIGO Fertility Tool Box™, consisting of six
It is a remake of the World Health Organization components dealing with overcoming personal
seminal 1980’s film ‘Why Did Mrs Die?’, which is and societal barriers to infertility care, prevention,
based on a lecture by a pioneer in the Safe diagnosis, treatment, referral and resolution, plus
Motherhood Movement, Professor Mahmoud the FIGO Fertility Daisy™, which deals with why
Fathalla (a former FIGO President). The film paints one should care about infertility, was launched in
an accurate picture of the dangers women are Rome by Professor David Adamson, Chair of the
facing across the world, and the need to help L–R: Professor Sir Sabaratnam Arulkumaran (FIGO), FIGO Committee for Reproductive Medicine.
Report Editor, with contributors Dr Mike Mbizvo
them. (WHO), Dr Wolfgang Holzgreve (FIGO) and Dr André He said: ‘The Tool Box is simple, usable, and
The remake Lalonde (FIGO) at the press launch evidence-linked; a very flexible tool for adaptation
was overseen by in different environments and countries. It is
Dr Gwyneth Lewis hoped that it will be used by many providers of
and Ms Amy women’s healthcare to increase access to quality,
Gadney of Hands cost-effective infertility prevention and
On for Mothers management. We have taken into account the
and Babies, international sensitivities with respect to culture,
an organisation religion, politics and economics.’
making educational He added: ‘Infertility, specifically in low-resource
tools for women in poor areas of the world: settings, is important and its management is
www.handsonformothersandbabies.org justified by the positive impact on quality of life,
The film can be viewed at the following link: burden of disease, political commitments, non-
http://www.handsonformothers World Report contributor discrimination, family planning, prevention of
andbabies.org/ or access it via the FIGO Frances Day-Stirk (ICM) sexually-transmitted infections, affordability and
website: http://www.figo.org/news/ protection of resources – each item symbolised
why-did-mrs-x-die-retold-launched- ‘Although Millennium Development Goal by a petal of the daisy.
figo-world-congress-2012-0010519 (MDG) 5 encompasses the reduction of
maternal mortality and the improvement of ‘Though the tool is intended primarily for
Professor Hamid Rushwan, sexual and reproductive health, every MDG women’s healthcare providers, we hope it will
FIGO Chief Executive, has an impact on women’s health as they also be used by policy makers.’
commented: ‘FIGO was affect women most: eradication of poverty, The FIGO Fertility Tool Box™ can be accessed at
indeed privileged to be gender equality, education, reduction of child http://www.figo.org/news/resources/
given this remarkable film to mortality, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and FIGO_Fertility_Tool_Box
launch at the Congress. We malaria,’ commented Professor Sir
wish to extend our sincere Sabaratnam Arulkumaran, presenting the
thanks to Dr Gwyneth World Report on Women’s Health at the
Lewis, Amy Gadney and Congress on 8 October.
Emily Goldner for their
unstinting dedication and The Report – published by FIGO every three
Professor Mahmoud years to coincide with the Congress – is an
Fathalla, former FIGO professionalism. Above all,
President we thank Professor overview of the major areas within women’s
Mahmoud Fathalla, without whom this excellent global maternal and reproductive health. The
project could not have been achieved. The film is goal of the 2012 Report – the theme of
as moving and relevant today as it was 30 years which is ‘Improving Women’s Health’ – is to
ago – it continues to be a necessary call to arms focus on these wider issues, expanding the
for the global health community.’ focus for professionals beyond the traditional
basic obstetric functions.
You can also read: ‘On Safe Motherhood At 25
Years… Looking Back, Moving Forward’, by ‘The medical activities that need to be
Professor Mahmoud Fathalla, at the above FIGO implemented to prevent maternal mortality Professor Adamson (right, alongside former FIGO Honorary
link. and morbidity are known, but global progress Secretary Professor Ian Fraser) at the Reproductive
cannot be achieved unless effective policies Medicine press conference
are introduced by governments that enable
Rebranded FIGO Cancer women to access such care,’ Professor
Arulkumaran explained.
Report 2012 available He added: ‘The FIGO 2012 World Report
The former ‘Annual Report on the results of on the topic of improving women's health
treatment in Gynecologic Cancer’ has been provides ample information to allow
retitled the ‘FIGO Cancer Report’ and the everyone to take action at an individual,
latest edition was launched to tie in with the institutional, and professional level. It is a
FIGO Congress. call for action based on evidence. It
It brings together updates on the staging and addresses how we can act, in addition to
management guidelines on each site-specific what has happened or what is currently
gynecological cancer, and Gestational going on. One single organisation or
Trophoblastic Disease; and separate government cannot achieve these tasks.
In addition to the global cooperation of
chapters from a developed and developing
partner organisations, every one of us
world perspective on pathology,
has to take some responsibility to
chemotherapy and radiation.
improve women’s health.’
The system that has been used for collecting
The 2012 Report is published as a
international data on gynecological Supplement (Volume 119, Supplement 1)
malignancies is being reconstructed and to the International Journal of
modernised and will be available at the next Gynecology & Obstetrics (IJGO), and is
World Congress in 2015. available at http://www.ijgo.org/
The Report is available from the FIGO issues?issue_key=S0020-
Secretariat at €30 (email figo@figo.org). 7292(12)X0011-0
An online snapshot
International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics | December 2012 7

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