INTRODUCTION
The Association of West African societies of Obstetrics and gynecology (AWASOG) was formally inaugurated on the 17th of February 2020 at the Nicon Luxury Hotel Abuja Nigeria. The 2nd congress of the association took place 2 years later in 2022, also in Abuja- at the Silver Green Luxury Hotel. The third congress of the association came up as a land mark event at the two day congress held in the 29th and 30th of August 2024 at Welcome Hotel/Event Center, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria. It formally conferred fellowship awards of West African college of obstetrics and gynecology to some obstetrics and gynecological professionals who thereafter became the foundation fellows of the college. The congress also witnessed the launching of the maiden edition of the society journal- West African journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Both the launching of the journal and the ceremony for the award of fellowship to the foundation members presented a colorful spectacle.
CONFERNCE ORGANIZATION
The chairman of the local organizing committee was Prof. Yusuf Oshodi while the Secretary was Dr Dupe Adedeji, members of the LOC included Dr Kunle Ogunyemi, Ass. Prof. K. Okunade, Dr Ayodeji Adefemi, Dr Ayokunle Olumodeji, Dr Abolore Babalola. The theme of the conference was Strengthening Women’s Health in the West African Sub region while the subthemes were
- Family planning and demographic challenges
- Respectful maternity care
- Gender issues in Reproductive health in the west Africa sub region and
- The scourge of Malaria in Pregnancy
CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS
A total of 87 obstetricians and gynecologists registered for the conference and award of fellowship which was conducted both physically and virtually. In attendance included the following, president of the society/college Professor J.I. Brian D Adinma and Secretary General Dr Chris Agboghoroma, members of council who were physically in attendance included Prof. O.A. Ladipo, Prof. O. Otolorin, Prof. Ejiro Emuveyan, Prof. Osato-Giwa Osagie, Prof. Adetokumbo Fabanwo, Prof. Ireti Akinola, Prof. Paul Ezeonu and Dr Abu Alasa, represented at the occasion also were country director of IPAS Nigeria Health Foundation, Dr Lucky Palmer and the representative of Marie-stopes Nigeria Reproductive choices, Dr Kingsley Odogwu, 5 pharmaceutical companies exhibited at the congress. The congress event was managed by Xavier communication Ltd.
CONFERENCE DAY 1 (THURSDAY 29TH)
Registration commenced as early as 8am under both the physical and online platform. The first plenary was the guest presentation delivered online by Prof. Justin Konje and titled ‘the strategies to prevent preterm birth. The occasion was chaired by Prof. Oladipo Otolorin, who was physically present and co-chaired by Prof. Audu Idrisa who participated online it was a brilliant presentation that elicited an exciting brainstorming question, answer and comment session. The rapporteur to the session was Dr Polycarp Agu. This presentation was immediately followed by Tea break with tour of exhibition by the participants. The second plenary session was a panel discussion segment sponsored by Ipas Nigeria Health Foundation, and titled: Gender issues in reproductive health in the West African sub region.’ The session was chaired by Prof. Calvin Chama and moderated by Dr Merry Jaja. The guest speaker for the session was Dr Chris Agboghoroma. The panelists included Prof. O. A. Ladipo. Prof. J. I. B. Adinma, Dr Lucky Palmer and Dr Kingsley Odogwu. The panelists were taken through four rounds of questions to which they made their comments. The participant also actively contributed to the panel discussion. The third plenary session titled’ MOMCARE: was a presentation from Omotayo Opeyemi Essien of Rambaxi. The session was chaired by Dr Ejiro Emuveyan with Dr Abu Alasa as the co-chair. Lunch followed thereafter. The events of the opening ceremony which took place from 2:00pm was chaired by Prof. O. A. Ladipo with Dr Salma Anas Ibrahim, special adviser to the president of Nigeria on Health, who participated virtually as the special guest of honor.
Following welcome messages from the conference organizers and the president of AWASOG, the keynote presentation titled Respectful maternity care was made by Prof. Ejiro E. Emuveyan, at the end of which the conference was formally declared open by the special guest of honor. Next in the line of events was the unveiling of the maiden edition of the West African Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (WAJOG). The journal was formally presented by the editor-in-chief, Prof. Ikechukwu Mbachu and the event was chaired by Prof. Adetokunmbo Fabanwo with Prof. Paul Ezeonu as the co-chair. There were two chief launchers- Chief (Dr) Emeka Offor, Chair, Chrome Group of Companies and Dr Clem Idigo, a medical practitioner/ business man. The journal was formally launched by the two gentlemen following the rendering of their citation. Some participants also launched the journal. The events of the opening ceremony ended following the launch. An evening cocktail get-together, held at the premises of Lagos state university teaching hospital, and sponsored by the Chief Medical Director of LASUTH, Prof. A Fabanwo, climaxed the day’s event.
CONFERENCE DAY 2 (FRIDAY 30TH)
The event of the day started with the fourth plenary session chaired by Prof. Calvin Chama – A paper presentation titled’ effect of maternal dyslipidemia on maternal and perinatal outcomes’ by Dr Polycarp Agu. This was followed by the presidential panel discussion segment titled ‘family planning and demographic challenges in the West African sub-region: strengthening multi-sectorial remedial approach’ moderated by Dr Dupe Adedeji. The panelists to the presidential panel session include Prof. J. I. Brian D Adinma, Prof. O. Otolorin, Prof. E. Emuveyan and Prof. O Ladipo. Panelists effectively exrade challenges related to the mismatch between population growth rate and GDP of the West African Nations and the promotion of family planning as a means of correcting the mismatch through effecting fertility decline, increasing CPR, increasing economic growth and achieving demographic dividend. The last event of the program was the award of fellowship of the West African College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists to the foundation member-obstetricians and gynecologist which was coordinated by the president of AWSOG/WACOG, Prof. Brian D Adinma and the secretary general, Dr Chris Agboghoroma. Eighty-six (86) obstetricians and gynecologists were inaugurated as foundation fellows of the West African college of obstetrician and gynecologists and duly received their certificates. Participants had lunch and this was followed by a brief inaugural general meeting of fellows to chat a way forward, under the moderator-ship of Prof. JIB Adinma and Dr Chris Agboghoroma.
Prof. JI Brian D Adinma, President WACOG
Dr Chris Agboghoroma, Secretary General, WACOG