First Lady of Rwanda to attend opening ceremony of FIGO Africa Regional Kigali Congress

The first hybrid Congress in FIGO’s history will take place across 13–15 December 2020 at the Kigali Convention Centre in Kigali, Rwanda, and on FIGO’s online platform. The Congress is being held in partnership with the African Federation of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (AFOG) and the Rwanda Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RSOG).

The Opening Ceremony will begin at 5.30pm CAT. Visitors to the local Hub in beautiful Kigali and those joining via Facebook will hear from world-renowned experts, whose knowledge and experience in all aspects of women’s health and rights help shape best practice and innovation. 

FIGO, AFOG and RSOG are honoured to be joined by Her Excellency Mrs Kagame, Guest of Honour at the Opening Ceremony. Mrs Kagame is the Founder and Chairperson of Imbuto Foundation, an organisation dedicated to engage, educate and empower women, children and youth in Rwanda. Mrs Kagame is known for her exemplary passion and devotion to uplifting the lives of vulnerable populations in Rwanda, a role she has whole-heartedly embraced since the inception of her Foundation, almost 20 years ago.

The Opening Ceremony will also welcome addresses from Dr Daniel Ngamije, Minister of Health for Rwanda, Dr Diene Keita, Deputy Executive Director for Programmes at UNFPA, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesu, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), and Professor Senait Fisseha, Director of Global Programs at the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation and Chief Advisor to the Director General of the WHO.

Professor Nafissa Bique Osman will present the Congress’ Scientific Programme on behalf of the Congress Organising Committee. Dr Eugene Ngoga, RSOG President, Dr Anne Kihara, AFOG President, and Professor Carlos Fuchtner, FIGO President, will welcome guests and invite them to enjoy Kigali’s innovation, beauty and hospitality and to build relationships with colleagues in the region and beyond.

The two main Congress days on 14 and 15 December, will include four keynote sessions from renowned speakers. On Monday morning, Jakaya Kiwete, Former President of the United Republic of Tanzania, will give a keynote presentation on accountability for women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health and how to build back better for Africa. In the afternoon, Professor Senait Fisseha, Director of Global Programs at the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation and Chief Advisor to the Director General of the WHO, will explore sexual and reproductive health and rights in Africa. 

On Tuesday morning, Professor Cheikh Cisse, President of the Federation Francophone of Gynecology-Obstetrics (FeFOG), will discuss maternal health and epidemics. In the afternoon, Professor Agnes Binagwaho, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Global Health Equity, will talk about challenging the status quo to achieve greatness as women in global health leadership.

The FIGO Africa Regional Kigali Congress is a global, hybrid event shaped in the heart of Africa, bringing together obstetricians, gynaecologists, midwives, nurses and other specialists in the field of women’s health and policy. Through more than 60 hours of live and on-demand content and sessions provided by over 190 speakers from more 20 countries, the Congress will enable important discussions that will help to shape national, regional and global policy and ultimately ensure that women around the world achieve the highest possible standards of physical, mental, reproductive and sexual health and wellbeing throughout their lives.

Notes to editors

About the Congress

The FIGO Africa Regional Kigali Congress (Virtual Event with a Hub in Kigali) will take place on 13–15 December 2020 at Kigali Convention Centre in Kigali, Rwanda, and on FIGO’s online platform. The Congress is being held in partnership with the African Federation of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (AFOG) and the Rwanda Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RSOG). The Congress will bring together more than 1,000 healthcare professionals including obstetricians, gynaecologists, midwives, nurses and other specialists in the field of women’s health and policy. They will meet alongside decision-makers, patients and advocates. Regional and global leaders will unite to share knowledge, build alliances and propose solutions to the challenges in women’s health and rights.

The scientific programme consists of plenaries, seminars, workshops, abstract sessions and discussion and debates on best practice, new guidelines, technologies and innovation. The programme has three core tracks: Gynaecology, Obstetrics and Women’s Health Issues and Policy. Delegates will benefit from:

• over 60 hours of live and on-demand content
• 190+ speakers from over 20 different countries 
• 35+ organisations and Member Societies 
• over 200 abstracts presenting the latest research 
• 11 innovative Pre-Congress Workshops
• access to content up to 1 year after the Congress has ended.

About the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO)

FIGO is a global organisation working to improve the health and wellbeing of women and newborns worldwide. Founded in 1954, FIGO is the only organisation bringing together professional societies of obstetricians and gynaecologists in research, advocacy and clinical best practice across 132 countries. 

FIGO is committed to a world where every woman, wherever she lives, achieves active participation in her own health and rights, and the highest possible standards of physical, mental, sexual and reproductive health. FIGO’s strength comes from its world-renowned experts, whose knowledge and experience in all aspects of women’s health and rights help shape best practice and innovation. 

FIGO pursues its vision through global programme activities, with a particular focus on sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia. FIGO builds capacities of national member societies from low-resource countries through strengthening leadership, good practice and promotion of policy dialogues. 

FIGO advocates on a global stage, especially in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) pertaining to reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and non-communicable diseases (SDG3). It works to raise the status of women and enable their reproductive and sexual rights, including addressing FGM and gender-based violence (SDG5). 

The challenges are huge, and therefore collaboration is essential. FIGO is committed to strengthening partnerships with other professions and sectors (SDG17). FIGO are in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO) and consultative status with the United Nations (UN), helping to shape public policy at global, regional and national levels.