Ministry Endorsed ESOG Member’s Race for FIGO President Elect
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The Ethiopian Ministry of Health (MoH) endorsed Dr. Yirgu G.Hiwot’s bid to become the President Elect of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO). The endorsement of Dr. Yirgu, who is one of the most senior members of the Ethiopian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ESOG), came officially from H.E. Dr. Lia Tadesse, minister of Health.
The endorsement came in a video recorded from the Minister’s office on August 21, 2021.
For over three decades, Dr. Yirgu has served national, regional, and international institutions as a clinician, a leader, an academician, a consultant and advisor and a researcher.
“I am also testifying this not only as the Minister of Health but as one of his former students. Where I have been mentored and taught as a resident in obstetrics and gynecology by Dr. Yirgu,” said the Minister during her endorsement.
Dr. Yirgu was ESOG’s President for two terms between 2010-2013 when he has helped in strengthening it to become Africa’s financially and structurally strong professional association. Serving as the President of one of the oldest professional associations in Ethiopia- the Ethiopian Medical Association (EMA) between 2007-2009, he made an immense contribution in building the capacity of the organization.
Currently, as a Director of Clinical Services at Black Lion Hospital, one of the premier health facilities in Ethiopia, he along with his colleagues is successfully sustaining the institution’s health services while venting the surge of COVID within operating on a very limited resource.
The rate of maternal mortality caused specifically by unsafe abortion has been slashed in Ethiopia. That is mainly due to a revised law that paved a way for the provision of safe abortion services. Dr. Yirgu has played a leading role in the process of having the law revised, which in turn changed many women’s lives.
“One of the key contributions Dr. Yirgu made was the reform of the abortion law to bring about the reduction from mortality from unsafe abortion. Unsafe abortion was one of the largest killers of women in Ethiopia accounting for more than 34% of causes for maternal mortality, but with the reform that he played a key role in, now the abortion (the unsafe abortion) cause for maternal mortality has reduced to 6-9%,” the Minister included in her endorsement speech.
He also led the first initiative to start a sexual assault survivors clinic in Ethiopia. The initiative then was replicated by a number of University Hospitals, where he also led in the development of management and development of guidelines. Dr. Yirgu has published dozens of original researches in peer-reviewed journals earning him the title of Associate Professor. He has contributed to National Guidelines on Family Planning, a Technical and Procedural Guideline on Safe Abortion Services, and a National Management Guideline on Selected Obstetrics and Gynecology topics.
“In addition, Dr. Yirgu has played a key role in enhancing or advancing the access and quality of emergency obstetric care across the country by developing several guidelines and training many providers across the nation,” said Dr. Lia.
Dr. Yirgu’s experience beyond the borders of Ethiopia is well evidenced in his service as the first and founding president of the African Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology (AFOG). As AFOG’s President, Dr. Yirgu has laid all the necessary foundational works and successfully overseen the first and second annual meetings of the federation.
Dr. Yirgu has served as an Officer of FIGO between 2016 and 2019. As an officer, he had a unique opportunity to know FIGO and had the chance to work with NCD, fistula, and safe abortion working groups. He has represented FIGO at regional meetings to increase its visibility and show the proximity of FIGO to member countries. He was an executive board member for FIGO between 2013-2016 and helped formulate a strategic plan for FIGO’s vision for the following five years and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with ‘Direct Relief’, for the provision of operating kits to doctors for surgery training, free of charge, for a fistula project, which benefited women with fistula.
Dr. Yirgu was one of the recipients of FIGO’s Projects, where he successfully led FIGO- LOGIC and FIGO SRHR Projects with national outreach and impact. Dr. Yirgu had collaborated with world-renowned institutions such as WHO HQ, WHO Africa, and IPAS & Guttmacher Institute on various issues and made contributions in CEmONC training and MDSR project.
The election for the FIGO President-Elect will be conducted on a meeting that will be held virtually via the Zoom platform on Wednesday 27th October and Thursday 28th October 2021 from 12.30 to 16.00 UTC+1 (UK time), in accordance with FIGO’s Articles of Association, on the occasion of FIGO’s XXIII World Congress.
The Ethiopian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ESOG) nominated one of its senior members, Dr. Yirgu G.Hiwot for President Elect position of the International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology (FIGO). If elected, Dr. Yirgu will serve as a President Elect for two years before becoming President.
The Ethiopian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ESOG) together with the West Harerge Zone health department organized an annual review meeting from August 27-28, 2021 in Chiro Town. Hospital and health center managers, MCH focal persons, woreda health office managers, family health officers, and zonal health department staff attended the meeting. Opening speech and keynote addresses were given by zone health department heads. All zonal MCH activities including the project activity were presented by the MCH coordinator of the zone health office. Facility managers presented their MCH performance including FP and CAC services and discussion was made. The discussion was led by the zone health bureau head and zone MCH department heads. Finally, zone health department participants and district health office participants recognized the performance of the MCH activities and promised to give attention to provide quality services.
Following reports on shortages of supplies, the Ethiopian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ESOG) provided Medical Supplies and drugs to hospitals and health centers. Five MVA Kits with 4-12 mm cannula, 25 gowns, 25 Aprons, four boxes of Miso-Mifo drugs were provided for hospitals while the health centers got four MVA kits with 4-9 mm and 4-12 mm cannula, 15 Gowns, and 15 Aprons, two boxes of Miso-Mifo drugs. 