PART 1

Introduction

The FAMSA International Scientific Conference and 24^th General Assembly was hosted by the FAMSA Permanent headquarters, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria from the 22^nd to the 28^th of July, 2001. The major venues of the week-long event tagged ‘Ibadan 2001’ were the College of Medicine Auditorium at the University College Hospital, Ibadan (UCH) and the Premier Hotel, Ibadan.

Over 200 Medical Students representing 24 medical schools across the African Continents, as well as experts from NGOs, opinion leaders, representatives of governments and foreign embassies, representative of media agencies and the general public participated in the conference proceedings, which consisted of the following

CONFERENCE SESSIONS:

The conference scientific proceedings involved the following:

i.                 4 Scientific sessions, which are

Session A; The Global Reproductive Health Burden-The African dimension

Session B; The Biosocial Dynamics of HIV/AIDS

Session C; Reducing maternal, mortality and morbidity from unsafe abortion in Africa

Session D; Reproduction health policies and gender issues

ii.          3 Expert series on contemporary public health problems

iii.                 A facilitated workshop on the Reproductive Health implications of the Africa       Refugee Crisis.

iv.                 The  FAMSA Youth Parliament

v.                 A Plenary session

vi.                 The 24^th General Assembly.

PART II

Problems Identified

In the course of the Conference, several papers, data and proposals were presented to the assembly by seasoned experts and resource persons on critical issues relevant to the conference theme.

Oral presentations and arguments were also entertained as well as poster displays and presentations. The conference agenda proceedings also included a facilitated workshop, during which participants were able to brain storm on a semi-formal platform on topical reproductive health issues of common concern to the African region.

 

At the close of deliberations,

1.      The conference observed with profound dismay the staggering burden of reproductive health problems bedeviling the states of the African Continent.

2.      Particularly, the Assembly identified the multiple scourge of HIV/AIDS, high maternal mortality and morbidity, unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions, ill-informed traditional practices (like female genital mutilation - FGM), reproductive and sexual rights violations, poverty and ignorance as peculiar and serious threats to the corporate existence of the African people.

3.      The conference also noted that political instability, communal feuds, ineffective ways of conflict resolution, poverty and misguided motives are major causes of population stampedes and refugee crises in Africa, with the resultant adverse effects on the reproductive and holistic health of African people.   

4.       The conference concurred that adverse societal norms and values as well as unfavourable or inadequate reproductive health legislature are contributory to the poor reproductive health indices and status of African States.

5.      With much regrets, the assembly unanimously agreed that misplaced priority in government spending and policy execution rate and abject poverty are the major causes of the health woes plaguing many parts of the Continent.

6.      The conference surmised that government and community action, as well as supports from the United Nations system and other international agencies; aimed at alleviating the health plights of the African populace are not maximal, not consistent, not constant and sometimes are half hearted and in some places and in some aspects are entirely lacking.

 

PART III

RECOMMENDATIONS

After further and thorough deliberations on the problems aforementioned, and considering their critical and urgent nature, the FAMSA Assembly, unequivocally and unanimously recommends as follows;

1.  That individual African persons should henceforth regard their health as a personal responsibility; holding themselves accountable as free moral agents, being able to discern between good and bad and having the prerogative to strike a wise balance between matters of fundamental rights and matters pertaining to death and life.           

2. That at family and community levels efforts should be made by leaders and molders (family heads, community leaders, religious leaders, and instructors and counselors), to demystify sex and issues related to sex.

3.  That African governments at all levels and in collaboration with their official and traditional agencies should break the silence on all topical and controversial reproductive health issues such as abortion, contraceptive use, and HIV / AIDS and bring debates on these issue to the fore for public consideration and enlightenment.

4.  That governments and NGOs should reinforce enlightenment efforts via Information Education and Communication (IEC) strategies to increase awareness about the reproductive health issues of concern, with a view to initiating positive behavioural changes and modification.

5.  That adequate, accessible, acceptable and affordable reproductive health care services for the African people must be put in place by governments, communities, and other agencies.  These facilities must include appropriate maternal care, family planning, counselling and Post Abortion-Care Services

6.  That all African governments assisted by international funding and development agencies should take pragmatic steps to improve the socio – economic status and living conditions of the people of Africa.

7.  That African states must strive to create conducive legal environment and make appropriate legislation for the full realization of the basic ideals of reproductive and sexual rights.

8.  That youth friendly reproductive health services and policies should be put in place to meet the specific needs of African youths.

9.  That a re-prioritisation of government spending should be done; such that the health of African peoples will be accorded due priority in government budgetary and fiscal policies.

10.  That African states through their unifying structures (e.g. OAU and sub – regional bodies) should create effective platforms for networking initiatives and collaborative partnerships among member countries to tackle the multidirectional reproductive health burden facing the people of the continent.

 

PART IV

Resolutions

During its final, concluding and plenary sessions, the FAMSA delegates with due consideration to the thematic issues of the conference severally made the following resolutions:

I.                    Firstly, to act as arrowheads for a new wave of advocacy for positive reproductive health policies that will promote the quality of lives of the African people.

II.                 Acting through local Medical Students Associations (MSAs) and the FAMSA as overall umbrella body, to renew their commitments to Village Concept Programmes (VCPs) and community oriented projects, with a view to providing essential, howbeit minimal health services to many African people who otherwise will be unreached by Africa’s inadequate and inefficient primary health care delivery system.

III.               To offer supportive and voluntary services to all agencies who are responsible for the management of African refugee populations and simultaneously to promote the concept of conflict resolution and dialogue as plausible alternative to wars and violence.

IV.              To advocate for periodic review of medical schools curriculum to incorporate broader issues of reproductive health, so as to enable African medical students become effective, complete, responsive and responsible physicians equipped to meet new and higher demands of the future.

V.                 Lastly, using the organs of FAMSA to serve as a rallying point to mobilize African Medical Students, other students and African Youth to participate in the re – emerging pan – African movement, so that they may be empowered to translate the pan – African philosophy into sustainable regional development.

CONFERENCE GUEST SPEAKERS AND RESOURCE PERSONS 

1.                  Professor T.A. Lambo, O.B.E., M.D., F.R.C.P., D.Sc (Hons.) LL.D (Hons.), - Grand-Patron of FAMSA Headquarters 

2.                  Professor Wole Akande (WHO Geneva) – Chairman of the Opening Ceremony/Key note Speaker 

3.                  Professor Jerry Gana, Honourable Minister for Information and National Orientation – Chief Guest of Honour 

4.                  Dr. A. Moudi, Country Representative, World Health Organisation (WHO) Key Note Address Speaker  

5.                  Mr. Sharon Polishuk, Head Economic Department Embassy of Israel Lagos 

6.                  Mrs. Shannon Evans Mcleod, Coordinator Community Relations Department Embassy of Israel Lagos 

7.                  Professor V.A. Nottidge, Deputy Provost College of Medicine, University of Ibadan 

8.                  Dr. (Chief) Mrs. Grace Ebun Delano, Executive Director, Association for Reproductive and Family Health, Ikolaba Ibadan 

9.                  Rev. Fr. Stephen Astill, S.J. Catholic Chaplaincy Centre, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH)

10.              Liora Joyce Valinsky, Israeli Public Health Expert, MASHAV Institute Tel Aviv Israel 

11.              Dr. Folarin Olowu – Centre for Development and Population Activities, Victoria Island, Lagos. 

12.              Professor B.O. Oshotimehin, Director Social Sciences Research and Reproductive Health Network 

13.              Professor O.O. Akinkugbe, Chairman Governing Board UCH Ibadan  

14.              Dr. Kayode Obembe, Chief Medical Director, Christus Hospital Ibadan

15.       Colonel (Dr.) B.C. Okafor – Coordinator, B Zone of Post-Abortion Case Network (PACnet), Military Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria 

16.              Ms. Ayo M. Tubi, Senior Technical Advisor, Ipas, U.S.A. 

17.              Professor (Mrs.) W. Shokunbi – HIV/AIDS Researcher, University College Hospital Ibadan. 

18.              Professor I.F. Adewole, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, and Dean Faculty of Clinical Sciences and Dentistry, University of Ibadan. 

19.              Dr. Boniface Oye-Adeniran – Coordinator, Campaign Against Unwanted Pregnancy (CAUP), Lagos. 

20.              Mr. Mike Egbo, Country Representative, Pathfinder International Victoria Island Lagos. 

21.               Chief Afe Babalola, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, OFR, LLD 

22.              Dr. Muganzi Alex Muganga, Mulago Hospital, Kampala Uganda  

23.              Mr. Adigun Oluseyi, Action Group on Adolescent Health Ibadan 

24.              Miss Loretta Ogboro, Women’s Health and Action Research Center (WHARC) Benin City.  

25.              Mr. Majok Malek Roum, Bahr El Ghazal University, Sudan 

26.              Mr. Issaka Kamaye, University of Niamey, Niger. 

27.              Miss Seyi Akinwumi, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Ile-Ife

28.              Mr. Peter Thomas Ajack, Juba University Medical School, Sudan. 

29.              Mr. Seyi Olufemi, University of Ilorin Medical School Nigeria

 

CONFERENCE ADVISERS/TECHNICAL SUPPORT

1.                  Prof. T.A. Lambo OBE, M.D, FRCP, D.Sc (Hons), LLD (Hon) Former Deputy Director General WHO Geneva and Grand Patron FAMSA Headquarters

     2.             Mr. Sharon Polishuk – Head Economic Department, Embassy of Israel, Lagos.

3.                  Mrs. Shannon Evans Mcleod – Head Community Relations Department, Embassy of Israel, Lagos.  

4.                  Mrs. Ayo M. Tubi – Senior Technical Advisor, Ipas USA

      5.                  Prof. Wole Akande – WHO Geneva.

6.                  Prof. I.F. Adewole, Consultant Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University College Hospital Ibadan Nigeria, Executive Consultant FAMSA Headquarters. 

7.                  Prof. B.O. Oshotimehin, Director Social Sciences and Reproductive Health Research Network, Executive Consultant FAMSA Headquarters.

      8.                  Chief Afe Babalola, San, OFR, LLD of the Lincoln Inn, London. 

9.                  Dr. Akin Odukogbe, consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, University College Hospital Ibadan. 

10.              Embassy of Israel Lagos Nigeria – Gave major technical support to the conference

 

 SPONSORS

The Executive Board of FAMSA Headquarter, Ibadan hereby expresses her gratitude to the following individuals and agencies for their immense financial support towards the successful organization of this international conference and FAMSA 24^th General Assembly.

Dr. Kola Russel Ojo, Managing Director Jotessig Group of Companies

Ipas Nigeria

Embassy of Israel, Lagos

World Health Organisation, Nigeria

National Action Committee on HIV/AIDS

Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, OFR, LLD

Swiss Pharma Nig. Ltd.

Chief Kola Daisi, Managing Director Fountain Trust Bank

Cadbury Nigeria Plc

Group Medicals Ltd.

Astra Zeneca

Dana Pharmaceuticals

Elder (Dr.) Kayode Obembe, Chief Medical Director, Christus Hospital

Nigerian Bottling Company Plc

 

APPRECIATION

Embassy of Israel Lagos Nigeria –

Special thanks and gratitude to the Embassy of Israel Lagos Nigeria for their immense contribution, assistance, support and collaborative partnership throughout the planning and execution of this project.

 

PART V

CONFERENCE OFFICIALS

AJOSE SEMIU
Secretary, Communiqué Drafting Committee

ADIGUN OLUSEYI
Head, Scientific sub-Committee and Workshop Superintendent
 
ADEOLA OLAGBENRO
Secretary, Local Organising Committee

ALVAN UKACHUKWU
Secretary Administration FAMSA Headquarters
 
IGBOEKWU CHUKWUMUANYA
Administrator, FAMSA Headquarters,
Chairman Central Organizing Committee and Chairman, 24th General Assembly.