International Women's Health Programme

Current Initiatives

FIGO Saving Mothers and Newborn Projects

In 2005 the International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (FIGO) launched its second generation of national level maternal and newborn health projects aimed at contributing to the reduction of maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity. The projects aim to strengthen the capacity of national professional associations (Ob/Gyn and midwives) to engage in maternal-newborn health through the design and conduct of projects in the field.

The SOGC is actively supporting FIGO Saving Mothers and Newborn Projects in Haiti, Uganda, Kosovo and Ukraine for which it has been chosen as the twinning society. Within this capacity, the SOGC will be actively involved with the projects for their duration, working in partnership with the associations to meet their stated objectives. As part of the twinning relationship, SOGC members have been assigned to the projects as technical advisors. In each case, the projects have both Ob/Gyn and midwife advisors. The projects will all be conducted by the national ob/gyn society in collaboration with the national midwifery associations in their country. Participating societies are encouraged to partner with other relevant associations including pediatric and nursing associations.

The primary objective of the projects is to contribute to the reduction of maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity and to improve access to maternal and newborn care.

Secondary objectives of the projects are:

to strengthen the capacity of national professional societies engaged in maternal-newborn health to design and implement projects in this field, making them increasingly versatile in supporting national level efforts which may also be initiated by other actors.
to strengthen cooperation between FIGO and national societies, as well as between societies in regions or countries of different economic levels.
to strengthen cooperation between national societies and national stakeholdersinvolved with Safe Motherhood initiatives
to increase the credibility of national societies locally to provide technical support to Ministry of Health and national professional councils

Haiti

In Haiti, the project aims to strengthen the health centre in Croix Des Bouquets by establishing Basic Emergency Obstetrical Care (BEOC) and Comprehensive Emergency Obstetrical Care (CEOC).

The SOGC’s assigned technical experts for this project are René Laliberté, MD and Charlotte Landry, RM.

The project aims to:

Create an infrastructure that will offer access to BEOC and CEOC services (pre partum, intra partum, and immediate post partum) including immediate newborn care and resuscitation.
Increase the collaboration between the Société Haïtienne d’Obstétrique et de Gynécologie and the Ministry of Health.
Develop collaboration and links with community organizations and partners to mobilize the population toward the use of EOC services.

The project was initiated in March 2007.

Kosovo

In Kosovo, the project builds on the work conducted within a previous partnership program where the ALARM International Program was introduced into the country. The FIGO SMNH Kosovo project aims to strengthen the capacity and sustainability of professional health associations to take an active part in improving the quality of maternal and newborn care.

The SOGC technical experts for this project are Ferdinand Pauls, MD and Cathy Ellis, RM.

The goal of the project is to strengthen the capacity and sustainability of professional associations to take active part in improving the quality of maternal and newborn care in Kosovo.

More specifically the project aims to:

Strengthen the organizational capacity of the KOGA (Kosovar Obsterics and Gynecology Association) and the KMA (Kosovar Midwife Association) with regard to the following: project management skills, communication capacities, development and maintenance of partnerships based on participatory decision making process, working with the sexual and reproductive health approach.
Assume a leadership role in the development and implementation of national standards and protocols related to maternal and newborn care in regional and university maternities in Kosovo.
Initiate partnerships with other stakeholders or peer institutions such as professional associations in the region, in the EU and within FIGO, including women and client groups.

The project was initiated in December 2006.

Uganda

In Uganda the project aims to build capacity for the reduction of maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity in 2 neighboring under-served districts, Kibale and Kiboga.

The SOGC technical experts for this project are Jean Chamberlain, MD and Ann Lovold, RM.

The key objectives of the project interventions are:

To strengthen the capacity and credibility of the ob/gyn and midwifery associations in Uganda to be leaders in maternal and newborn health care;
To strengthen the provision of emergency obstetrical care and essential newborn care in the Kiboga and Kibaale districts.
To promote community participation in the reduction of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality in Kiboga and Kibaale.

The project was initiated in March 2007.

Ukraine

In Ukraine the key objective of the project is to strengthen the capacity of the Ukrainian Association of Obstetrics and Gynecology (UAOG) to improve the quality of emergency obstetric care in Ukraine using the ALARM international program approaches.

The SOGC technical advisors for this project are Vyta Senikas, MD and Eileen Hutton, RM.

More specifically the project aims to:

Strengthen UAOG’s organizational structure regarding its capacity to be involved in promoting and conducting Continuing Medical Education (CME) activities related to emergency obstetric care in Ukraine
Build UAOG’s capacity to promote and implement the ALARM International Program as one of its Major CME programs
Strengthen the capacity of UAOG to integrate a rights-based approach within their program, including the ALARM International Program

The project was initiated in January 2006.

Last Updated September 18, 2007