Women doctors from 29 countries who participated in the 27th World Congress of the Medical Women's International Association that ended in Accra recently have called on governments to ensure that their public health policies make cervical cancer prevention a priority and that all people be educated on the disease. In a communique strongly calling for action on various health issues, the participants also said governments should create enabling access to scientifically validated, affordable interventions such as vaccines which should also be available to men, for the prevention of anal and penile cancer. The congress, the first ever to be held in Africa in the association's 88-year history, attracted 360 women and accompanying persons from Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, Ghana, Georgia, Germany, Iceland, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Sierra Leone, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, The Netherlands, Uganda, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Zambia. The women doctors expressed concerns about the negative impact of gender-based violence on women and girls and resolved that medical women should be sensitised and trained in the sensitive handling of survivors. The communique further called the attention of governments to increased morbidity and mortality due to reproductive health roles and activities, especially in the light of the HIVIAIDS pandemic. They proposed that governments provide comprehensive sexuality education to their people. On the high maternal mortality rate that persists, especially in developing countries, the meeting resolved to press for the health policies of all governments to urgently address the reduction of maternal morbidity and mortality by guaranteeing access to contraceptive commodities, antenatal care, skilled attendance at birth, safe abortion services and emergency obstetric care and by investing in women's empowerment and education. The congress affirmed that women doctors could make a difference working together with men to achieve improved health for the people of any nation. However, it said although women were taking the lead in so many fields these days; the career paths and progressions for many medical women still lagged behind those of men in many countries. The congress, hosted by the Society of Ghana Women Medical and Dental Practitioners (SGWMDP), included visits to medical institutions such as Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, the Princess Marie Louise Hospital for children and the LISTER hospital, a private facility. In the end, Dr Afua A.J. Hesse, Paediatric Surgeon, UGMS at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and Chair of the Local Organising Committee, was elected President of the organisation. The opening ceremony of the event held at La Palm Hotel was graced by the wife of the Vice President of Ghana, Hajia Ramatu Mahama, the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Gladys Ashietey, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Elias Sory, and many others. A high-powered team of speakers which included Dr Nafis Sadik, former Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Ms Mari Simonen, Deputy Executive Director, UNFPA, Prof. Fred T. Sai, Government Advisor on HIV/AIDS and Dr Kabba Joiner, Executive Director of the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), addressed the participants. The Medical Women's International Association was established in 1919 and is the longest-running organisation of all medical organisations. The next meeting will e held in Germany in 2010. Source: Daily Graphic