CONFERENCE: Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Congress
4-9 OCTOBER 2009 CAPE TOWN
PMNCH highlights role of health care professionals
Organizer: Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO)
Event date: 4-9 October 2009
Venue:Cape Town International Convention Centre in Cape Town, South Africa
7 October 2009 | Cape Town, South Africa – Health care professionals from national, regional and international associations and government representatives joined voices in a PMNCH-organized session at the XIXth FIGO Congress to highlight the crucial role that health care professionals play in achieving Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5 and the importance of partnership in this role. Some two thousand professionals from across the globe have gathered for the Cape Town Congress, which is organized the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO). FIGO also released its world report on women’s health.
PMNCH session: Health care professionals partnering for healthy mothers and children
The PMNCH special session on the role of health care professionals in achieving MDGs 4 and 5 was chaired by the incoming president of FIGO, Dr Gamal Serour and the current president of International Paediatrics Association, Chok Wan Chan and included PMNCH Board members Dr Andre Lalonde (SOGC\FIGO), Dr Zulfiqar Bhutta (IPA) and Bridget Lynch (International Confederation of Midwives) and PMNCH Director, Dr Flavia Bustreo. The session also included country testimonies. See the full Agenda on the link to your right.
All speakers at the special session underlined that the achievement of MDGs 4 and 5 depends on the provision of essential effective interventions to the mothers and children that need them, which in turn requires the presence of an effective health workforce. They stressed that frontline providers of services must be involved in MNCH planning, implementation and evaluation. Speakers touched on the importance of involving health care professionals in standard setting, in curriculum development and training, in the development of scopes of work and human resources strategies, especially those including task sharing and in advocacy.
Speakers noted collaboration between health care professional associations as a key to improving their contribution to MNCH. The development of joint objectives and to the extent possible activities and initiatives and aligned messaging and joint advocacy can add strength to HCPAs. Development partners and international HCPAs were urged to help increase the capacity of national associations, include them in dialogues, development and implementation of plans and programs. National governments were urged to include HCPAs in planning, implementation and evaluation of MNCH and related plans and the Partnership was asked to continue to build links between HCPAs, national governments and development partners.
Quotes from the PMNCH Session
Bridget Lynch, PMNCH Board and International Confederation of Midwives
"The alliance is imperative: It is not simply the right and useful thing to do. It is imperative because we are the providers of the key health care services. And none of us can do it alone."
Dr Zulfiqar Bhutta, PMNCH Board and International Paediatrics Association
"Health care workers have to go further and look at the underlying barriers that impede women from seeking health care."
Dr Andre Lalonde, PMNCH Board and SOGC\FIGO
"I find it ironic that those who are most concerned and provide the services at country level are the least consulted."
Dr Flavia Bustreo, PMNCH Director
"Five years ago, the representatives of the international Health Care Professional Associations did not know each other and did not collaborate in a structured way. It is apparent that we have made a great deal of progress."
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