Recently, the governing body of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) held an online meeting, notable for the participation of University representatives specialising in obstetrics and gynaecology. Among them were Academician Viacheslav Kaminskyi, a member of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine and Rector of Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine, who serves on the FIGO Presidium for Ukraine, and Associate Professor Dmytro Ledin from the Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology, and Reproductive Sciences.
During the meeting, Ukrainian delegates, alongside representatives from 35 other countries, discussed global challenges faced by the community of obstetricians and gynaecologists. A presentation prepared by the NGO ‘Association of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Ukraine,’ under the leadership of Tetiana Kolomiichenko, Chief Researcher of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology, and Reproductive Sciences, garnered special attention. This presentation outlined the history of the Association's formation, its ongoing activities, and the state of obstetric and gynaecological services in Ukraine during the war. The participants were particularly moved by accounts of the resilience of Ukrainian doctors, who are conducting childbirth and surgeries in bomb shelters, working in frontline areas and ‘grey zones’, and engaging in volunteer efforts, including service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Vyacheslav Kaminsky emphasised, “We continue to work towards our common goal of ensuring that women have access to the highest standards of physical, mental, reproductive, and sexual health throughout their lives.”
The FIGO President and other Presidium members from around the world, including those from the USA, Germany, India, South Africa, Malaysia, the UAE, Argentina, and Chile, expressed admiration for the dedication of Ukrainian healthcare professionals.
Among the key decisions made during the meeting was the approval of an initiative to establish a World Day for the Prevention of Maternal Mortality, supported by the WHO. Additionally, the meeting reviewed the results of the Global Alliance for Women's Health, organized under the auspices of the World Economic Forum (WEF). Participants also heard reports from FIGO subcommittees focused on gynaecological surgery, sexual and reproductive health, and maternal and child health.
