CAPE TOWN, South Africa—FIGO, the International Federation of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians, has conferred its Recognition Award on Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, the Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, for her major contributions to women’s health and rights. This is highest honour that FIGO bestows on those who are not gynaecologists or obstetricians.

Ms. Obaid received the award at the XIXth World Congress of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians being held in Cape Town, South Africa. The five-day congress brings together 8,000 participants in search of solutions to major global problems, such as maternal death, cervical cancer as well as the links between gender violence and HIV infection. The congress also saw the launch of the World Report on the Women's Health 2009. The report features an article contributed by Thoraya, entitled ‘Fifteen years after the International Conference on Population and Development: What have we achieved and how do we move forward?‘

FIGO also launched the World Report on the Women’s Health 2009, which examines progress in providing universal access to reproductive health for women, since the 1994 Cairo International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD).

Speaking at the launch, Ms. Obaid noted positive changes since the ICPD, but decried the lack of resources to provide universal access to reproductive health.

“Despite progress in some countries, one woman still dies needlessly every minute from complications from pregnancy and childbirth; more than half a million each year,” said Ms. Obaid. “Most of these deaths could be prevented with known strategies such as skilled attendance at birth, emergency obstetric care and family planning.”

“We need to focus on a continuum of care throughout the life cycle, engage communities and strengthen health systems so they can deliver to women when women are ready to deliver,” Ms. Obaid added.

Contact Information:

George Ngwa
Tel:  +27 726 171 032
Email:  ngwa@unfpa.org