… Commissioner Applauds SOGON’s Voluntary Offer to Support Maternal, Reproductive Healthcare
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The Lagos State Ministry of Health has expressed readiness to deepen collaboration with the Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON), Lagos Sector, to address the persisting challenges of maternal and neonatal mortality in the state.
This was disclosed earlier today during an advocacy visit by SOGON executives, led by the former National President, Prof. Rotimi Akinola, and the Lagos Sector Chairman, Prof. Abidoye Gbadegesin, to the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, at his office in Alausa, Ikeja.
In his welcome remarks, Prof. Abayomi described human capital as the most vital infrastructure in Lagos and emphasised that maternal and infant welfare must take top priority in public health investments. Drawing from his recent visit to Southeast Asia, he noted how other regions were investing significantly in family health to safeguard future generations.
Prof. Abayomi stressed the traumatic nature of childbirth, calling it one of life’s most extreme transitions. “Whether through natural or assisted birth, entry into the world is a traumatic process. We must ensure this journey is as safe as possible for both mother and child,” he said.
Responding to the concerns raised by SOGON executives, the Commissioner welcomed the proposals brought forward by the professional body and pledged to consider them within the strategic planning framework of the Ministry. “Let’s move from conversation to execution. We are open to sustainable partnerships that drive measurable change,” he added.
The Commissioner noted that SOGON’s proposal, as well as the Voluntary Obstetrician Service Scheme (VOSS) document, would be utilized as a vital resource in the state’s health sector planning. He emphasised the urgent need to scale up residency training programmes in general hospitals, calling on SOGON to provide data on the WHO-recommended doctor-to-population ratio in the field, the number of facilities currently running residency programmes, and the requirements for establishing new ones.
Professor Abayomi stressed the importance of making the OB-GYN profession more appealing to young doctors. He highlighted the role of mentorship and exposure during medical training in shaping career choices, urging SOGON to support initiatives that inspire upcoming specialists through excellence and guidance.
On broader policy issues, the Commissioner outlined the state’s commitment to decentralizing obstetric care and preventing maternal deaths through better regulation, education, and community-level interventions. He also addressed sensitive topics such as safe termination of pregnancy, advocating for a discreet, policy-aligned approach, and announced plans to redesign and increase the operational model of Maternal and Child Care Centres across Lagos to improve outcomes.
Prof. Akin Abayomi applauded SOGON for its willingness to support Lagos State’s maternal and reproductive healthcare system. He described the Society’s pool of over 350 professionals as a timely asset to address the critical shortage of specialists in obstetrics and gynaecology across the state’s general hospitals.
Former SOGON President, Prof. Rotimi Akinola, in his presentation, highlighted the need to institutionalize the Volunteer Obstetrician Service Scheme, which allows senior practitioners to mentor frontline health workers at the grassroots level. “This model has worked in the past. Our members are ready to go into underserved communities to support health centres and identify obstetric emergencies early,” he said.
Prof. Akinola also called for the legal backing of the Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) programme. “We’ve operated this desk within the Ministry on goodwill for over a decade. We now urge the Commissioner to lend his influence towards legislating the MPDSR system. The draft document is ready,” he appealed.
Addressing the sensitive issue of unsafe abortion, Akinola disclosed that it contributes up to 13% of maternal deaths in Lagos. He clarified that SOGON is not advocating abortion on demand but safe terminations where medically necessary. “There are national guidelines. We’re asking for practical policies to reduce preventable deaths, not moral debates,” he explained.
Chairman of SOGON Lagos Sector, Prof. Abidoye Gbadegesin, reaffirmed the society’s commitment to partnering with the government in the interest of women’s health. “We speak for 350 obstetricians and gynaecologists in Lagos. Women’s health is our calling, and we must advocate for policies and practices that protect mothers and children,” he declared.
Prof. Gbadegesin underscored the importance of deploying only skilled birth attendants during pregnancy and delivery, stating that lack of expertise at that critical stage is a major driver of avoidable deaths. “WHO and FIGO insist on skilled care. Anything less is a ticking time bomb,” he said.
He praised the Lagos State Government’s various maternal and child health initiatives but called for deeper integration of professional bodies like SOGON in policy design and execution. “We commend your vision, Honourable Commissioner, but we ask that you carry us along more intentionally. Our expertise must be tapped from conception to implementation,” he urged.
Also present at the meeting was the Chief Medical Director of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, who is also a SOGON member. He was the pioneer Chairman of the MPDSR desk in Lagos and contributed to the early implementation of maternal death audits in the state.
The advocacy meeting ended with a mutual agreement to hold a larger stakeholder engagement to review and refine the proposals and initiate the next steps for improved maternal and child health outcomes in Lagos.
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