Women's health to the fore as local, regional experts in field gather in Colombo

Silver jubilee congress of the South Asian Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and the 55th annual scientific conference of the Sri Lanka College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists ends today

It was not just a single but a double celebration when eminent personalities from Sri Lanka and abroad in the field of crucial women’s health gathered in Colombo over the weekend to discuss, debate and share views.

The celebrations marked the silver jubilee congress of the South Asian Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology ( SAFOG) and the 55th annual scientific conference of the Sri Lanka College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists ( SLCOG) from Friday (September 30) to today (October 2), at Hotel Shangri-La, Colombo.

The congress theme was ‘Enhancing Women’s Health with Regional & Global Partnerships’, with SAFOG President Dr. Rohana Haththotuwa and SLCOG President Prof. Sanath Lanerolle being co-chairs of the sessions.

SAFOG is a regional association of Executive Committee members of the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies in six South Asian countries including Sri Lanka. The other members are India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Afghanistan with strong bonds also with the Maldives and Bhutan. It advocates and builds capacity with member countries on alignment with global clinical guidelines issued by the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) while contributing to global recommendations from a South Asian perspective.

At Friday’s inauguration with around 400 participants, chief guest and eminent Sri Lankan Prof. Sir Sabaratnam Arulkumaran based in the United Kingdom lauded SAFOG for achieving a “significant” reduction in maternal mortality and morbidity despite major drawbacks of economic recession, natural environmental disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prof. Sir Sabaratnam is Past President of the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists, FIGO and British Medical Association (BMA).

He said: “SAFOG has grown and performed well by being proactive in producing regular guidelines and conducting workshops including virtual activities during the pandemic. It has been reactive to major situations like COVID-19 by conducting educational programmes, issuing

guidelines and promoting vaccination.

“However, the challenges to women’s health continue in the form of reduced health spend due to a lack of finances by our governments and continuing natural disasters of floods and earthquakes in some of our countries that destroy health infrastructure and divert much-needed spend on women’s health to disaster relief funds.”

Women’s health and rights are eroded with persisting or escalating domestic and sexual violence, said Prof. Sir Sabaratnam, pointing out that education and empowerment are the definitive solutions that should be promoted but appear to be an elusive goal to many. The time has come to focus on how SAFOG could be more active in public health, environmental and political issues by working more collaboratively with governments, nongovernmental organisations (NGOs), private charities and sister professional

organisations.

“There is a need to work towards achieving gender equity and reduce the disparity due to social determinants of health, as women bear the brunt of social deprivation. We know the issues, but we need to find the answers and act on them,” he added.

The birth and growth of the SLCOG have been interesting, similar to that of the all-important pregnancy period when these specialists nurture both the mother and baby. It had been back in November 1953, nearly 70 years ago, that the Ceylon Obstetrics and Gynaecological Association (COGA) was established with the inaugural meeting being held at ‘St. Bryce Dale’, the residence of Dr. (Mrs) May Ratnayake down Ward Place, Cinnamon Gardens.

From it was born a constitution with COGA’s membership being limited to doctors with “a special interest in obstetrics and/ or gynaecology” who were intent on reducing maternal mortality (deaths of mothers). COGA’s mandate was clear: The editorial of its first journal ( 1954) states: “The Association of Obstetrics and Gynaecology is not a trade union, nor does it exist for the main purpose of fighting for the rights and privileges of its members. The only fight that figures in our aims is that against maternal and infant mortality.” Namechanges followed – COGA becoming the Association of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Ceylon in 1967 with the membership being limited to Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the clear objectives of improving skills and knowledge for the betterment of women’s health. There followed the Ceylon College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and finally in 1972, the Sri Lanka College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

There is a need to work towards achieving gender equity and reduce the disparity due to social determinants of health, as women bear the brunt of social deprivation. We know the issues, but we need to find the answers and act on them