New African Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (AFOG) launched at Rome Congress

Remarks were given by Professor Joseph Karanja, ECSAOGS President; Professor Eusèbe Alihonou, SAGO’s First and Past-President; Professor E Maaouni, Maghreb Federation President; and Professor Bomi Ogedengbe, West African College of Surgeons President. They outlined the work of their organisations and their ready support for the establishment of an African Regional Federation.  Special inaugural addresses were given by Dr Luis Sambo, Regional Director, WHO AFRO and Professor Gamal Serour, FIGO Past-President.

The Constitution of the new Federation was endorsed, and elections took place to select the Federation’s Officers and decide on the location of its Secretariat.

Elected Officers:

• President: Dr Yirgu Gebrehiwot, (Ethiopia)
• Vice President: Professor Eusèbe Alihonou (Benin)
• President Elect: Professor Oladapo Ladipo (Nigeria)
• Honorary Secretary: Dr Amir Elnahas (Sudan)  – The Secretariat will be housed by the Obstetrical & Gynaecological Society of the Sudan
• Honorary Treasurer: Professor Bhaskar Goolab (South Africa)

Professor Hamid Rushwan commented: ‘This is an enormous achievement for all of the obstetricians and gynecologists in Africa, who have been working hard towards the establishment of a pan-African body to bring them together and target the improvement of women’s health in the region, and the science and practice of obstetrics and gynecology.

‘I encourage all societies in the African region to give AFOG full support and to work hard towards building a strong regional body that will help promote the importance of women’s health in Africa.’

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