The 18th Asian and Oceanic Congress of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (AOCOG), which is scheduled to be held here in Bangalore from September 5-9, 2002, will have deliberations featuring safe motherhood. For the first time this meet is being hosted in India by the Bangalore Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists under the auspices of the Federation of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Society of India (FOGSI).

"The bidding for the Congress is done six years in advance. We had tough competition from Singapore and Israel to host the event," informed the organisers.

The presentation, which featured the advancements in maternal healthcare facilities, helped the FOGSI to be able to get the Congress to Bangalore, Dr. Kamini A Rao, head of Bangalore Conception Centre and organising chairperson AOFOG said.

The theme of the congress is 'Excellence in women's health'. Twenty-three countries would be involved in the programme. They would share their experiences in women's health care their countries, she informed. Dr. Kamini Rao would present a paper on female foeticide and sex determination tests in the country.

"The focus will be on the healthcare practises in the participating countries which include Bangladesh, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Israel and Laos," she said.

Other than the scientific programmes, which would focus on issues like general obstetrics and gynaecology, maternal foetal medicine, gynaec endocrinology, infertility, gynaec oncology topics would include social issues pertaining to women's health.

Emphasis would be on reproductive issues among teenagers and new developments and application of computers. One of the highlights of the international event is the presence of 39 young gynaecologists from 23 countries, who would attend the Congress with free registration. They would get an opportunity to take part in the sessions and enrich their knowledge. A special skill transfer workshop on 'Evidence based medicine' has been arranged for the young gynaecologists.

One of the major issues that would be highlighted would be the female foeticide and the Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (PNDT) Act. As a part of the conference BSOG would organise a walkathon to create awareness on the pre-natal sex detection. The sex ratio among the child population in the age groups of 0-6 years was 949:1000 in Karnataka according to the Census 2001.

The Indian team of obstetricians and gynaecologists would lay emphasis on women healthcare and the need for better facilities apart from violence against women, abortion and nutrition for women will be deliberated upon.