FLASOG Regional Meeting

September 5-9, 2011, Gynuity Health Projects co-organized two panels related to the use of misoprostol for ob/gyn indications at the bi-annual meeting of the Latin American Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (FLASOG). One panel, co-organized with Planned Parenthood Federation of America International, highlighted experiences in three Latin American countries using misoprostol for treatment of incomplete abortion. Representatives from Ecuador, Guatemala and Mexico described challenges and successes of integrating a protocol for ambulatory treatment of incomplete abortion in primary and tertiary level health services in both the public and private sector. The session was attended by over 80 participants. The panel was moderated by Dr. Wilfrido León, Ecuador and included the following panelists:

• Dr. Ricardo García Cavazos, Subsecretario, Secretaría de Salud del Distrito Federal, México: Aplicando la norma: La experiencia de integración de misoprostol para APA en el Distrito Federal
• Dr. Francisco Sigui Lavagnino, Hospital Nacional de Amatitlán, Guatemala: Introducción de una tecnología nueva donde no se cuenta con normas nacionales: La experiencia de Guatemala
• Dra. Monica Cardenas, Cemoplaf, Quito, Ecuador: Misoprostol para APA a nivel primario de atención y los costos beneficios del método en una red de servicios privados en el Ecuador

Gynuity participated in a second panel on misoprostol for postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) sponsored by the International Federation of Gynecologists and Obstetricians (FIGO) highlighting evidence on the use of misoprostol for prevention and treatment of PPH. The session was moderated by Prof. Anibal Faúndes (FIGO) and included four speakers:

• Dr. Carlos Fuchtner, Bolivia. Misoprostol for prevention of PPH
• Dr. Shirley Villadiego, PATH, U.S. Programmatic experience using oxytocin in Uniject™* for the prevention of PPH in Latin America
• Ilana Dzuba, Gynuity Health Projects, U.S. Sublingual misoprostol for treatment of PPH: Evidence and programmatic implications
• Dr. Wilfrido León, Ecuador. High fever following postpartum misoprostol administration and dosing implications

This panel is one of a series of sessions organized by FIGO at regional and international meetings as part of a joint initiative with Gynuity to increase access to information among obstetricians and gynecologists. A detailed description of this and other sessions organized by FIGO as well as information on FIGO’s misoprostol for PPH initiative can be found at FIGO’s website.

Gynuity staff also presented during a plenary session organized by Ipas on “Women at the center of attention”, reporting on the evolution of the legal pregnancy termination program of the Secretary of Health of Mexico City (SSDF in Spanish) and the results of the first mifepristone medical abortion study conducted in Mexico City by the SSDF and Gynuity Health Projects.