The Ethiopian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ESOG) held a press conference at Hilton Addis Hotel last Saturday December 31, 2016. The press conference aimed at informing the media and the general public on the upcoming event- The 25th Annual Conference of ESOG and Silver Jubilee Celebration and the 2nd Annual Conference of the African Federation of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AFOG).
The conference will be conducted at Capital Hotel and Spa on February 2-4, 2017 with the theme- “The Challenges and Opportunities of Reproductive Health in Africa” -
Leading the press conference were Dr. Dereje Negussie, president of ESOG, Dr. Yirgu G.Hiwot and Dr. Mengistu H.Mariam. Having made elaborations on the event, the representatives of the Society have answered questions from the various media outlets. Reporters have raised questions regarding the upcoming event and on other issues regarding maternal, children and reproductive health.
The event was concluded with a blood donation session, the purpose of which was to increase the awareness of the community on the importance of blood donation to save lives and to discharge the social obligation of the Society members on top of the professional responsibility of caring for women, mothers, fetuses and newborns. Staff members of ESOG and a aboard member were among those who donated blood.
The Ethiopian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ESOG) conducted a consultative meeting with pharmaceutical companies at Siyonat Hotel on December 16, 2016. The consultative meeting involved matters related to the 25th Annual Conference and Silver of Jubilee of ESOG and the 2nd Annual Conference of the African Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology (AFOG).
On the meeting Dr. Dereje Negussie, president of ESOG, gave overview of the joint conference and discussion was also on fund raising and engagement of pharmaceuticals with the presence of Dr. Dawit Desalegn, fund raising and sponsorship sub-committee head.
Themed- SDGs: Opportunities and Challenges of Reproductive Health in Africa, the joint conference is planned to be conducted at Capital Hotel and Spa on February 2-4, 2017. Members of both the Society and Federation, along with international personalities in obstetrics and gynecology, other dignitaries from the health sector both from Ethiopia, the region and beyond are expected to attend the joint conference.
A consultative meeting was conducted on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) at Grand Yordanos Hotel on December 15, 2016. The Ethiopian government aspires to eliminate FGM and early marriage by 2025, which would be five years earlier than the new global development goal.
The meeting was organized by the Ethiopian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ESOG) and the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) in collaboration with the Royal Norwegian Embassy. The consultative meeting witnessed participants from major stakeholders including those from ESOG, FMoH, the Roayal Norwegian Embassy, Regional Health Bureaus, Path Finder, , the Orthodox Church, the World Health Organizations (WHO) and others.
The consultative meeting saw scientific presentations from Dr. FikerMelese, Dr. Solomon Kumbi, Dr. Mutesim Abdulahi and Dr. Wondimu Gudu and Sr. Etenesh Gebreyohannes. Participants deliberated on the scientific presentations entitled Global Perspective of FGM and WHO Guidelines, Introduction to FGM and Its Complications, Complications of FGM, Jigjiga Study and Activities being Undertaken by the Federal Ministry of Health on FGM.
Participants deliberated well on areas ranging from the collaboration that must be sought among institutions to slow down the harmful practice, the role that can be played by Members of the Parliament and religious leaders and institutions, the significance of community based conversations to the role of the media and many others.
It was understandably concerning to participants that even though the statistics at a national level showing the rate of FGM related incidents has declined in the newly released Demographic and Health Survey, incidents show no improvement in some regions, Somali and Afar in particular.
“… I have witnessed girls lined up begging to get mutilated,” said Sartu Shemsudin, from the EIASC, IRCE, in explaining the need to work on those who are not mutilated as much as on those who have been mutilated and those who get mutilated by influence from their respective communities.
The meeting also saw group discussions on policy, prevention and care and support for FGM victims. The group discussions were followed by presentations and respective deliberations.
“We have also shared our thoughts on the fact that the health sector should not only be concerned about the health aspect of the matter, rather go beyond to address community and social aspects and administrative issue to make better public awareness,” said W.ro Yamirot Andualem, director for Women and Youth Affairs of Federal Ministry of Health.
An initial meeting on capacity building of branch offices of Ethiopian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ESOG) was conducted at the Project Office on December 17, 2016. Participants were Dr. Dereje Negussie, president; Dr. Balkachew Negatu, vice president; Dr. Birhanu Sendek, honorary secretary; Selamawit Kifle, general manager and four representatives from ESOG’s Regional Chapter Offices from Gondar, Bahir Dar, Harar/Eastern and Mekelle.
Issues under discussion included fund raising, project initiation, expectations from branch offices and medico legal issues. Challenges of maintaining branch office spaces and ways forward regarding the issues raised were also areas of focus.
A consultative meeting on Ob-Gyn Residency Program was conducted at Capital Hotel and Spa on November 28, 2016. The project that aims at enhancing medical education and training in ob-gyn residency in Ethiopia by ensuring the implementation of a harmonized curriculum being in effect in various institutions is part of the collaboration between the Ethiopian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ESOG) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).
Attending the meeting were, Dr. Dereje Negussie, president of ESOG, Dr. BalkachewNigatu from St. Paul Hospital Millennium Medical College, Dr. Mengistu H/Mariam from Center for International Reproductive Health Training (CIRHT), Dr. Getachew from the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) HR Directorate, Dr. Getachew from Higher Education Relevance and Quality Agency (HERQA) and faculty heads from various institutions providing residency programs and senior residents.
As organized and mediated by Dr. Tesfaneh Fikre, ESOG’s coordinator of the ESOG-ACOG project, participants saw presentations on How are Residency Programs on Ob-Gyn Organized? by Dr. Balkachew; Specialty Training Curriculum in Obstetrics and Gynecology by Dr. Mengistu and Landscape of Ob-Gyn Residency Programs in Ethiopia and Mapping of University Partners Dr. Tesfaneh Fikre.
Participants of the consultative meeting agreed on a set of minimum requirement to launch a new ob-gyn residency program and outlined a set of core competencies and educational objectives to be further refined by the ESOG-ACOG Project Residency Team.