The Role of Health Professional Organisations for Maternal Newborn Health - the FIGO Perspective

Andre Lalonde MD, FRCSC ,Chair FIGO SMNH committee

Asia Regional Meeting on Interventions for Impact in Essential Obstetric and Newborn Care Prevention

International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO)

FIGO has a vision that women of the world achieve the highest possible standards of physical, mental, reproductive and sexual health and well-being throughout their lives

Committees
Capacity Building in Education and Training Ethical Aspects of Human Reproduction and Women's Health Menstrual Disorders Fistula Gynecologic Oncology Pelvic Floor Medicine and Reproductive Medicine Reconstructive Surgery Safe Motherhood and Newborn Health Womens Sexual and Reproductive Prevention of Unsafe Abortion Rights

Working Groups

Business Committees
Audit and Finance Committee Publications Management Board

Health professional associations

Have a vital role to play in the promotion of womens health especially in MN health

Have an important role in efforts to achieve the MDGs 4 and 5

Capacity building of health professional associations

Capacity-building is essential if health professional associations are to be able to undertake their roles effectively This is especially needed in low-resource countries where the vast majority of maternal, newborn and child mortality and morbidity occur

 what can a national society of obstetrics and gynecology do?

Improving the quality of reproductive healthcare Outcome analysis - regular collection and assessment of data is extremely important. Audit, confidential enquiry and near-miss analysis

Ethical standards - vital role in promoting ethical standards for its members and obstetrician-gynecologists in general within its country

Saving Mothers and Newborns Initiative

Build and sustain the capacity of the ob/gyn and midwifery societies in the participating developing countries to conduct essential projects relevant to the care of mother/newborn
The goal is to reduce maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality, contributing to the achievement of MDGs 4 and 5 in 10 countries: Haiti, Peru, Kenya, Uganda, Uruguay, Ukraine, Nigeria, Moldova, Kosovo, and Pakistan

2006-2011, funded by SIDA and FIGO

FIGO and professional societies: an example of a successful FIGO collaborative project LOGIC Initiative (Leadership in Obstetrics and Gynecology for Impact and Change)
Aim: Improving maternal and newborn health in low-resource countries through strengthening the role of obstetric and gynecological national associations Play a catalytic role in making positive changes in policy and practice and improve maternal and newborn health services for under-served populations Countries involved: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ethiopia, India, Mozambique, Nepal, Nigeria, Uganda

Project length: 2008-2013; funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

What can professional associations do?

Influencing policy Standard-setting Promotion of self assessments and audits Awareness raising and team building Continuing medical education for members Working in partnership

Reducing maternal mortality

The Continuum of Care

Providing quality care across the life-cycle:

A professional responsibility

Misoprostol for Post-Partum Haemorrhage in Low-Resource Settings Initiative

To advocate for and disseminate evidence-based information on misoprostol for post-partum haemorrhage for providers and clinical policy makers (in order to influence policy and practice, and to help normalise misoprostol use for PPH)
2010-2014, funded by Gynuity Health Projects

Prevention of Unsafe Abortion Initiative

Reduce the number of women dying as a result of unsafe abortions - accounting for 13/20 per cent of annual global maternal deaths - and hundreds of thousands of women suffering long-term complications
2007-2012, funded by an anonymous donor

 Fistula Initiative What is the project objective?

To implement structured fistula surgical training programmes in sub-Saharan Africa using a standardised training curriculum

Fistula Initiative
Disseminate the FIGO Global Competency-Based Fistula Surgery Training Manual . Ensure high quality clinical training and to increase capacity of service sites and staff to provide comprehensive management of fistula through a train the trainor program and support to the training centres

2008-2011, funded by UNFPA and FIGO

Feb 2011-June 2012, funded by USAID

FIGO Members Role

Leadership Advocate Champion Collaborator

Leadership
Think outside the box on issues Example:
Uganda Kibale Community fund for transport Provide members of parliament info on MM audits FIGO Task Shifting guideline ..difficult medical and political battles Code of ethics (respect of women) Promote evidence-based medicine

Advocate
Public radio /tv shows on rights to safe delivery and newborn care Parliament debates Uruguay Unsafe abortion issue in a climate of repression Choice of labor positions and mother-baby rooming in Support womens groups in securing misoprostol

Champions
Tackle unpopular issues for the government of the day such as low pay for health workers, poor conditions, lack of essential supplies and medications International forums on Safe motherhood and Newborn health essential maternal /newborn health Misoprostol, PPH guidelines

Collaboration
PMNCH ,ICM,IPA, UN agencies WHO, UNFPA, Unicef WB Development agencies : EXAMPLES
USAID: PPH STATEMENTS MISOPROSTOL MANAGEMENT OF UNSAFE ABORTION CIDA / SIDA: GRANTS FOR SAVE THE MOTHERS GATES / FIGO LOGIC

ICM colllaboration
Partners in many intiatives at international level , country and local level. FIGO save the mothers projects in Haiti,Uruguay,Peru.Nigeria.Uganda.Ukraine Developed joint statements on PPH prevention,Skilled attendance at birth Partcipate in joint projects such as POPPHI

 TAKE HOME MESSAGE

Act on quality of birthing unit, quality of care quality of staff /patient interaction. Audit, confidential enquiry and near-miss analysis

Leadership role for women's health in country setting and implementing standards
Ethical standards - vital role in promoting ethical standards for its members and obstetriciangynecologists in general within its country

We are making a difference !!

Unique role of leadership, cultural safety, advocacy and champions on the world stage, regional forums, at country level and in each institution where Obs/Gyn work every day.
Thank you Andr Lalonde Professor Obs/Gyn University of Ottawa alalonde1801@gmail.com