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COMMUNIQUE AT THE END OF THE 27TH CONGRESS OF MEDICAL WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION HELD IN ACCRA, GHANA FROM 31ST JULY TO 4TH AUGUST 2007Women doctors from 29 countries of the world have come out strongly to address issues in HIV/AIDS, gender based violence and the continuing scandal of high maternal mortality and morbidity.
These 360 women and accompanying persons journeyed up to 26 hours to meet in Accra this week for a most exciting Congress. This was on the occasion of the 27th World Congress of the Medical Women’s International Association, an organization established in 1919 which is the longest running organization of all medical Organisations. The countries represented were: Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Czech republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, Ghana, Georgia, Germany, Iceland, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Sierra Leone, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, The Netherlands, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States of America and Zambia representing all continents and all 8 W.H.O regions of the world.
The host organisation, the Society of Ghana Women Medical and Dental Practitioners (SGWMDP) led by their President Dr Josy Ghartey gave them a taste of the proverbial Ghanaian hospitality. Dr Afua A.J .Hesse, Chair of the Local Organising Committee and their highly efficient team, welcomed them to Accra “the centre of the world” as she put it, with music, dance, visits to medical institutions such as Korle-Bu, the Princess Marie Louise Hospital for children and the LISTER hospital and an exciting scientific content.
The opening ceremony for the Congress held at LaPalm Hotel was graced by the wife of the Vice-President of Ghana, the Hon Deputy Minister for Health, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service and many others amid fanfare and drumming.
The United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) sponsored delegates and a high powered team of speakers which included Dr Nafis Sadik former Executive Director, Ms Mari Simonen, Deputy Executive Director, Prof Fred T. Sai who chaired the historic International Conference on Population and development in 1994, Dr Kabba Joiner Executive Director of the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), Ipas represented by the International President Liz Macguire lead a panel at a stimulating and challenging lunchtime meeting on ‘The way forward in reducing maternal mortality’.
Reading the variability of health conditions and circumstances that occur around the world on each of the conference theme and sub themes and communicating their insights and leading the way for medicine into this 21st century, the meeting participants moved forward in wording the strongest possible action about various issues and several important resolutions were passed which include: ·
That Public health polices should make cervical cancer prevention a priority and ensure that all people are educated about cervical cancer , enabling access to scientifically validated, affordable interventions such as vaccines which should be available also to men, for the prevention of anal and penile cancer, and to reduce transmission of HPV.
- Recognizing the negative impact of gender based violence on women and girls and resolving that medical women should be sensitized and trained in the sensitive handling of survivors.
- Recognizing the increased morbidities and mortalities due to reproductive health roles and activities especially in the light of the HIV/AIDS pandemic resolved that governments should provide comprehensive sexuality education. ·
- On the persisting scandal of high maternal mortalities especially in developing countries, the meeting resolved to press for the health policies of all governments to urgently address the reduction of maternal morbidity and mortality by guaranteeing access to contraceptive commodities, antenatal care, skilled attendance at birth, safe abortion services and emergency obstetric care and by investing in women’s empowerment and education.
The Congress affirmed that women doctors can and do make a difference working together with men to achieve improved health for the peoples of any nation. Women lead in so many ways these days but for many medical women their career paths and progressions still lag behind those of men in many countries.
Participants agreed that there is ‘no simple painless solutions’ and that networking should continue and leadership skill be continuously built up.
The first ever Medical Women’s International Association Congress in Africa in its 88 year history has been an ‘outstanding success’ deemed the delegates and stakeholders. “Drawing on the strengths of women in the profession” said Professor Deb Colville. “What a wonderful experience as a young doctor” said another, Dr Sarah Garner from Australia. “I particularly like the initiative of this Congress of establishing a special interest group for young doctors and medical students”.
The next meeting will be in Germany in 2010. There is a lot for that meeting to live up to!!
Contact: Dr. Shelley Ross, Tel.: +1 604 439 8993
(Updated August 2007) .
