International Women's Health Programme

Current Initiatives

Over half a million women die annually from pregnancy-related complications; 11 million children die before their fifth birthday, 4 million are newborns; 99% of maternal deaths occur in low resource countries, often within the poorest communities. The SOGC, and other safe motherhood and newborn health initiatives aim to increase maternal and neonatal safety and reduce the numbers of deaths and illnesses associated with pregnancy and childbirth.

SOGC's international development work is conducted within several different areas:

• At the international (or multilateral) level, through active participation with International counterparts in advocacy and dialogue relating to sexual and reproductive health, specifically safe motherhood and newborn health. These include: the International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (FIGO), the Partnership for Safe Motherhood and Newborn Health, etc.

• At the national (or bilateral) level, through two types of partnership initiatives:

  • partnership with peer ob/gyn associations with the aim of increasing their institutional capacity to promote - at policy and program level - improved sexual and reproductive health for all women;
  • partnership with institutions or districts with the aim of increasing access and quality of sexual and reproductive health to all women.
• Within Canada, through promotion and advocacy within the Society, with other Canadian stakeholders in the international development field and with the public at large, for the purpose of sensitizing all Canadians to the scope of the problem; and through developing and implementing cost-effective strategies to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity worldwide.

Last Updated August 7, 2006