International Women's Health Programs
All women have a right to the healthcare needed to ensure their survival
Through active participation with our international counterparts, our partners at the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) and its International Women’s Health Program, the Foundation is an outspoken advocate of dialogue and education worldwide on issues relating to women.
Components of the International program include: ALARM International, the SOGC Partnership Program, and Health Systems Interventions.
THE NUMBERS
- 530,000 women die each year from complications of pregnancy and childbirth
- 99% of these deaths occur in developing countries
- 47% of women worldwide deliver their babies without a skilled attendant present
- 60% of deliveries worldwide take place outside of a hospital or birth centre
- 4 million babies die in the first month of life each year, and about an equal number are stillborn
- 99% of these deaths occur in developing countries.
PRINCIPLES
- Safe motherhood is a basic human right
- Safe motherhood and newborn health are matters of social justice
- Women’s empowerment is a prerequisite for improved sexual and reproductive rights
- Women’s poor sexual and reproductive health is influenced by a number of socioeconomic and cultural factors, all of which need to be addressed in order to improve women’s health
- Safe Motherhood and improved sexual and reproductive health can be achieved through access to quality basic health care
- Increasing access and utilization of skilled attendance at birth, including timely access to emergency obstetrical care are critical interventions for maternal and newborn health
- Health professionals and professional associations have an important role to play in ensuring women’s access to quality sexual and reproductive health services
ALARM International Program
Skilled care saves lives. This is the core concept of the ALARM International Program. In partnership with local ob/gyn associations, universities and other non-governmental organizations, the program provides healthcare training and education to address the main causes of maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity in low-resource countries.
The program has been conducted successfully in more than 20 countries to over 1000 skilled attendant.
Health Systems Interventions
Lacking resources and supplies, many developing countries face sizeable challenges in meeting even the most basic health needs of their citizens. Sadly, it is often the most vulnerable, and particularly women, who are most affected by these deficiencies. The lack of access to essential health care services continues to be the single most prevalent factor contributing to maternal deaths.
With the support of its international partners, and its generous volunteers and donors, the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaeocologists of Canada has undertaken several capacity-building interventions at the health-systems level to improve access and quality of emergency obstetrical care.
SOGC Partnership Program
For ob/gyn and other professional associations in low-resource countries, assuming a leadership role on key national policy and planning issues presents a great challenge.
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) works collaboratively with these local associations, helping to establish their roles as leaders in improving women’s health. The various initiatives of the Partnership Program provide a platform for the SOGC to share internationally its organizational experience and expertise; its educational resources and training tools; its knowledge of best practices; and its access to international and national experts.
The SOGC’s Program Partners include:
- Asociación de Ginecologia y Obstetricia de Guatemala (AGOG)
- Association of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Uganda (AOGU)
- Société Haïtienne d'Obstétrique et de Gynécologie (SHOG)
