International Women's Health Programme

Get Involved

The International Women's Health Program appreciates the interest and dedication of all of those who support international work. There are number of ways to become involved with the work of the program. They include:

Become a member Become a member of the SOGC Become a member of one of our international committees

Be an advocate Promote the International Women's Health Program by sensitizing other citizens and organizations Be a voice of support for Safe Motherhood and Newborn Health with Canadian policy makers, and abroad.

Volunteer Volunteer your time and expertise as an ALARM International Instructor or other opportunities which might be available.

Make a donation Make a donation in support of the International Women's Health Program

Participate Participate in activities initiated by the International Women's Health Program including the Annual International Women's Health Symposium

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Become a member

The Society welcomes to its membership all specialists in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, General Practitioners, Researchers, Nurses, Midwives and other health care providers in Canada and internationally. For more information about becoming a member, visit our Become a Member section.

Become a member of a committee

The SOGC's International Program is supported by the work of 2 committees:

• the Society's International Women's Health Committee and
• the ALARM/GESTA International Committee.

Members of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada are eligible to be members of the committees. The membership of these committees changes annually at the time of our Annual Clinical Meeting in June. Anyone interested in becoming involved can submit his/her name, along with an expression of interest and a CV to the International Women's Health Program at intl@sogc.com.

Be an advocate

Every action, on the part of every individual, will make a difference. When you contribute your time and expertise to the issue of safe motherhood and newborn health, you will have the satisfaction of having made a difference in the global initiative for safe motherhood and newborn health.

Health Professionals are in an exceptional position to effect change in the area of safe motherhood, newborn health and reproductive health. Health professionals have the medical expertise, status, credibility, and commitment to health improvement as well as contacts with the broader community. As a professional (midwife, nurse, specialist, MD, and other allied health professionals) you have great influence on decision and policy makers at local, national and international levels.

This international work also relies on the contribution of many other personnel such as: administrators, financial professionals, project managers and planners, information technology, and human resource professionals. These professionals are also in a privileged position to make their voice heard locally and nationally as a means to influence international decisions and policies.

Speak out and take action as an advocate for safe motherhood and newborn; your individual daily actions can make change and you are encouraged to speak aloud in your workplace and community about the burden of maternal mortality and newborn health in developing countries.

Contact the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation, the Minister of Finance, and your local member of parliament. Ask them to take immediate action to increase Canada's Official Development Assistance (ODA) and to make a stronger commitment to reducing maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity. To find out how to contact Federal Ministers and Members of Parliament visit the Parliamentary website.

Key Advocacy Messages

Recent reports suggest that in the last decade, little or no progress has been made globally in reducing maternal and infant mortality. In 2002 Canada, like many other donor countries, affirmed our commitment at the UN Conference for Development to increase international aid to the UN recognized figure of 0.7 percent of the country's GNP. Canada's current contribution is less than .30%.The Canadian Government should be a leader in International development and assistance due to its privileged position, should commit immediately to reaching it .7% GNP commitment.

The SOGC asserts that a woman's ability to survive pregnancy and childbirth is a basic human right; and that safe motherhood is thus a matter of social justice. We recognize that women's poor sexual and reproductive health is influenced by a number of socioeconomic and cultural factors, all of which need to be addressed to order to improve women's health, and that women's empowerment is a prerequisite for improved sexual and reproductive health and rights and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. The Canadian Government should be encouraged to reinforce its established position on the inclusion of sexual and reproductive rights in all international programming in an effort to reach the goals.

For more information on Canada's current positions on Safe Motherhood, and Canada's contribution read Safe Motherhood: Canada Making a Difference.

Volunteer

Several times throughout the year. the International Women’s Health Program seeks SOGC members to contribute their professional expertise and time to international projects on a voluntary basis. The primary mechanism is as an Instructor for the ALARM International Program although the opportunities are limited due to a lack of resources.

The SIWH Program is currently in the process of updating its database of interested volunteers. In the interim, volunteer positions and opportunities will be posted through group email.  To express your interest in getting involved please send an email to our international division at intl@sogc.com

Volunteer Sending Organizations

Many other organizations regularly recruit health professionals for their overseas programs.  The following websites provide information about other volunteer sending organizations:

• Canadian Council for International Cooperation
• Médecins du Monde (french only)
• Voluntary Service Overseas
• Doctors Without Borders

Make a Donation

If you would like to make a financial contribution in support of the International Women's Health Program you can do so in several ways.

Members of SOGC

If you are a member of the SOGC you can include a donation with your annual membership fee, and make a note that you would like the donation to support IWHP. You will receive a charitable tax receipt for the amount of your donation.

Non-Members

If you are a non-member your donation can be sent directly to: The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, International Women's Health Program, 780 Echo Dr. Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5R7. You will receive a charitable tax receipt for the amount of your donation.

Your donation will support the work of the SOGC's International Women's Health Program.

Participate

Participate in activities initiated by the International Women's Health Program including the Annual International Women's Health Symposium. For more information about such events and activities visiting our news and events page.

Last Updated May 2, 2007