By Ado Hassan, Sokoto
The Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria(SOGON) has rounded up its week-long Annual General Meeting and Scientific conference in Sokoto with a call on the three tiers of Government to financially support and implement evidence based integrated interventions that proves to improve maternal and child health.
The 51st Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference tagged” SOGON in the Caliphate 2017″ had as its theme:” Maternal and Newborn in a Challenging Economy.”
The health professionals who at the conference ushered in a new set of 6-man Executives to pilot it’s affairs for the next three years also noted that Nigeria is occupying a strategic pathetic position with 14% of number of women that die at child birth globally.
” The proportion is quite disturbing and we urgently need to do something t keep our women alive”, it said.
It also stressed the urgent need to reduce the high maternal mortality and perinatal rate in the country.
In an 11- points communique read at the weekend by its National President, Professor Oluwarotimi Akinola, SOGON observed that maternal mortality in Nigeria was fast assuming alarming proportion of 76 per 100, 000 which it said should be reversed to atleast 70 per 100,000 of women.
” Especially from Post- Partum Haemorrhage and Pre-eclampsia/ Eclampsia birth by training more skilled personnel in prevention of these conditions and provisions of drugs”, the Communique noted.
The Communique jointly signed by the President, Prof. Akinola and Secretary General, Dr Chris Aimakhu, urged for more training of doctors and nurses in Neonatal resuscitation with commensurate need for more women to be screened for reproductive tract cancers especially cervical cancers and the availability of Radiotherapy centre.
” All these should be provided at a minimal cost the an average Nigerian woman”, hitherto, said the already commenced Volunteer Obstreticians Scheme (VOS) would be scaled up and encouraged by states yet to start implementation.
Accordingly, SOGON in the communique said it remains resolute and committed to ensuring the Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response(MPDSR) initiative of the society as a body was implemented in every state in the country.
It further solicited the implementation of the National Health Act 2014 to ensure universal health coverage for every Nigerian citizen.
However, while it acknowledging the role the media as an important instrument and tool to be carried along for achieving goals , the communique said the Society as a professional organ, had made significant break-through with commensurate strides in improving maternal
health in Nigeria, citing its impact on the Internally Displaced Persons(IDPs) in the North Eastern part of the country.
Besides, SOGON according to the communique had successfully conducted its free medical outreach programme, treating over 200 women with various health conditions in Sokoto including those who major and minor surgeries were carried out on them “This is in addition to five pre-conference workshops and scientific sessions consisting of 55 poster presentations, 78 original scientific papers, 7 symposia and 6 plenary sessions.”
No fewer than 600 participants attended the annual conference which also inducted 40 new members as well conferment of Honorary status Membership on Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe state for his sustained commitment to maternal and child health programmes in the state.
Meanwhile, the new executives include: Prof. Oluwarotimi I. Akinola(President), Dr. Habib M. Sadauki(1st VP), Prof. Okay C. Ikpeze(2nd VP), Dr. Christopher O. Aimakhu(Sec Gen) and Prof. Bala M. Audu(Treasurer) while Prof. Olusola B. Fasubaa, Editor of its publication’ Tropical Journal’ has 2 yrs complete his tenure
