BRIEF ON ASSOCIATION OF WEST AFRICAN SOCIETIES OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY (AWASOG)/ WEST AFRICAN COLLEGE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNAECOLOGISTS (WACOG)

The association of West African Societies of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (AWASOG) is a body founded for West African obstetricians and Gynaecologists. It was inaugurated on the 17^th day of February 2020 in Abuja, Nigeria. It is an umbrella-body constituted of obstetricians and gynaecologists from the West African sub-region, together with obstetrics and gynaecological country-societies within the sub-region.

THE NEED FOR AWASOG/WACOG

Prior to the inauguration of AWASOG/WACOG, the obstetrics and gynaecological professionals in the West African sub-region had no formal body, and forum of interaction to deliberate on obstetrics and gynaecological issues of common interest to the sub-region. A closer interaction amongst obstetricians and gynaecologists would strengthen their efforts towards the reduction of poor obstetrics and gynaecological services, improve reproductive health indices and provide peculiar specific approaches to solving women’s health and other reproductive health problems in the countries within the sub-region. The sub-regional body was named Association of West African Societies of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (AWASOG). While it’s training, research, and services platform shall be called West African College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (WACOG). This is similar to East, Central, and south African Association of Obstetrics and Gynaecological Societies (ECSAOGS, and its corresponding ECSACOG). Sixteen countries belong to this association – 5 Anglophone countries (Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Gambia, and Liberia); 9 francophone countries (Burkina Faso, Benin Republic, Togo, Ivory Coast, Guinea Conakry, Senegal, Mauritania, Niger Republic, and Mali); and two Lusophone countries (Cape Verde, and Guinea-Bisau).

The benefits accruing from the establishment of the association will include:

1. Inter-country collaboration to improve maternal, new born, and reproductive health services in the sub-region;
2. Encouraging the establishment of obs/gyn societies in countries where they hitherto do not exist;
3. Increasing the participation of the sub-regional countries in the strengthening of African Arab Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (AAFOG);
4. Enhancing collaboration between allied health professions under the umbrella of West African Health Organization – West African College of Surgeons, West African College of Physicians, West African College of Nurses, West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists , West African College of Medical Laboratory Scientists, and even the recently proposed West African College of Environmental Health Practitioners; and
5. Increasing the relevance of the sub-regional country-societies in FIGO.

Vision statement

To promote and improve obstetrics and gynaecological practices in order to protect and uphold the sexual and reproductive wellbeing and right of women and new-born in the West African sub-region.

Mission statement

To mobilize obs/gyn practitioners in the West African sub-region; Influence the formulation of policies and development of human resources and infrastructure related to reproductive health; encourage quality reproductive health research and inter-professional collaboration, to ensure optimal sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and new-born in the sub-region.

 Goal

To influence the improvement of obstetrics and gynaecological practice for greater impact on West African people with resulting global contribution.

Specific Objectives

– To foster relationship amongst obstetricians and gynaecologists in the West African Sub-region

– To improve the health and wellbeing of women and newborns in the West African sub-region

– To influence policy formulation relating to the practice of obstetrics and gynaecology in the West African Sub-region

– To influence human and infrastructural capacity for the promotion of obstetrics and gynaecology practice in West Africa.

– To promote research, monitoring and evaluation of sexual and reproductive health intervention in the West African sub-region

– To improve inter-professional scientific collaborations in the West African sub-region through regional conferences and other scientific fora

– To establish a West African sub-regional scientific journal for enhanced science literature in the sub-region

– To upgrade the practice of obstetrics and gynaecology through education, training to maintain a high standard of professionalism and ethical adherence under the platform of the West African College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

 STRUCTURE OF THE ORGANIZATION

The structure of the organization is as follows:

1. Board of trustees
2. Council of AWASOG/WACOG
3. Executive committee constituted of:

• President,
• Vice president (Francophone)
• Vice president (Anglophone)
• Vice President (Lusophone)
• Secretary General,
• Two (2) Assistant secretary generals
• Treasurer
• Editor-in-chief of journal

4. Country coordinators – A representative from each member country

MEMBERSHIP

Every qualified fellow in obstetrics and gynaecology shall be eligible for full membership of the association while members (of relevant colleges) and trainee fellows (Resident doctors) shall be eligible for associate membership of the association.