President
Dr Kusum Thapa
President of SAFOG, 2026–28.
NepalAdvancing women’s health across South Asia.
One federation of the region’s national societies, working together since 1996 on training, research and the safety of every mother.
Member countries
1996First council and congress, Lahore
Six nations, one council, shared work since 1996.
The national societies of India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, working together through the SAFOG Council.
Founded 01
1996First council and congress, held in LahoreMembers 02
6National member societies on the SAFOG CouncilCommittees 03
17Standing committees led by regional chairs14th Congress 04
754Registrations at the 14th SAFOG Congress, MumbaiOur purpose
To bring together the obstetricians and gynaecologists of South Asia, and to strive for reproductive healthcare for every person in the region, above all, safe motherhood.
Education, research and partnership.
Between congresses, SAFOG’s committees, journal and partners carry its work across the member countries.
Training that is shared across borders.
Webinars, congress workshops and continuing medical education, with the aim of bringing uniformity to postgraduate training in reproductive health.
- Webinar libraryImaging the fetus, prenatal ultrasound and more
- Young Gynaecologist AwardSince 2019, for members under 40
- Committee programmes13 standing committees
The Journal of SAFOG.
A peer-reviewed, open-access journal sharing clinical guidelines, operative skills and research among the member countries.
- Launched2009
- Frequency by 2019Six issues a year
- Editor-in-chief since 2015Prof Jaideep Malhotra
Congresses that rotate across the region.
Since the first congress in Lahore in 1996, SAFOG congresses have moved between member countries, bringing faculty and delegates together.
- Silver Jubilee ConferenceColombo, 2022
- 14th SAFOG CongressMumbai, 2023
- Joint FIGO–SAFOG conferenceColombo, 2014
Working with global health bodies.
SAFOG cooperates with international and regional organisations concerned with reproductive health, through joint conferences, workshops and projects.
- FIGOPPH Bundle Approach project, 2018
- WHO SEAROCervical cancer screening training
- UNICEF, RCOG, AOFOG, UNFPAJoint programmes and sessions
Seventeen committees, one agenda.
Each committee is chaired from a member country and runs its own webinars, workshops and research. A few of their reports, in their own words.
Chair Dr Priti Kumar
Maternal & perinatal health
A webinar on saving mothers and babies drew on the E-MOTIVE and WOMAN trials of postpartum haemorrhage care, July 2022, followed by a PPH workshop in Indore.
Committee reportChair Dr Bhagyalaxmi Nayak
Gynaecological oncology
An online quiz for 203 trainees and fellows on cervical cancer prevention, and a WHO SEARO grant for screening training in Mizoram.
Committee reportChair Dr Rajshree Jha
Non-communicable disease
A monthly CME series in 2022 on gestational diabetes and on thyroid dysfunction in the women of South Asia.
Committee reportChair Dr Hrishikesh Pai
Reproductive endocrinology
Three webinars between November 2021 and July 2022, from male infertility to endometriosis.
Committee reportChair Prof Firoza Begum
Research & good practice
A good clinical practice webinar in February 2022, and research priorities for postpartum haemorrhage care.
Committee reportChair Prof Most. Rashida Begum
Education
Webinars on teaching techniques in medical education, evidence-based medicine and PCOS management, 2021 to 2022.
Committee report
EducationProf Most. Rashida Begum
Gynae endoscopyDr Bhaskar Pal
Guidelines developmentDr A.G Radhika
Gynaecological oncologyDr Bhagyalaxmi Nayak
Imaging scienceDr Achinta Dissanayake
Maternal & perinatal healthDr Priti Kumar
Non-communicable diseaseDr Rajshree Jha
Reproductive endocrinologyDr Hrishikesh Pai
Research & good practiceProf Firoza Begum
UrogynaecologyDr Novera Ghayour Chughtai
Women’s sexual & social rightsProf Salma Rouf
Constitution reviewProf Faruk Zaman
WebsiteDr Prabath Randombage
Maternal nutrition & breastfeedingProf Sadiah Ahsan Pal
Benign gynaecologyDr Sapana Amatya
Climate change & environment on women’s healthDr Aliya Begum Aziz
Menopause & midlifeDr Swaraj Rajbhandari
Nine objectives, one federation.
The published objectives of SAFOG, from regional cooperation to safe motherhood and health policy.
Objective 01
01 / 09
- Regional cooperation: To bring together the obstetricians and gynaecologists of the region for closer cooperation and social understanding.
- Health and development: To use and develop reproductive health as an instrument toward social and health development.
- Shared knowledge: To promote the exchange of ideas, knowledge, skills and attitudes among obstetricians and gynaecologists in the region.
- Postgraduate standards: To strengthen and bring uniformity to the postgraduate training of medical graduates in reproductive health.
- Continuing education: To facilitate continuing medical education in reproductive health across the region.
- Research: To encourage and maintain research on reproductive health relevant to the good health of the region’s population.
- International cooperation: To cooperate with international and regional organisations concerned with reproductive health.
- Safe motherhood: To provide reproductive healthcare for all persons in the region and, in particular, safe motherhood.
- Health policy: To involve obstetricians and gynaecologists in decision making on the health policies of the region.
The 14th SAFOG Congress, Mumbai.
Hosted by MOGS in association with FOGSI in September 2023, on the theme “Cutting-edge Management in ObGyn”.
754Registrations
67Foreign delegates
75Faculty, 16 international
83Free communications
SAFOG – Dr Rashid Latif Khan Oration. Dr Rohana Haththotuwa, on reducing maternal deaths from postpartum haemorrhage.
Young Gynaecologist Award. Dr Ankita Srivastva (India), Dr Asmita Ghimire (Nepal), Dr Gagani Tissera (Sri Lanka).
Installation. Dr Shyam Desai installed as President of SAFOG.
Six national societies, one council.
Each national society is represented on the SAFOG Council. Select a society for its office-bearers and contact.
Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India
FOGSI · Mumbai
Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Bangladesh
OGSB · Dhaka
Nepal Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
NESOG · Kathmandu
Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Pakistan
SOGP · Karachi
PresidentDr Azizun Nissa Abbasi
Secretary GeneralProf Tazeen Abbas
Emailsogpjpmc@hotmail.com
Sri Lanka College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
SLCOG · Colombo
PresidentProf Hemantha Dodampahala
Secretary GeneralDr Chandana Jayasundara
Emailslcogoffice@gmail.com
Afghanistan Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Afghanistan
CouncilAdded to the SAFOG Council under the revised constitution of 2021
Three decades of shared leadership.
From a meeting in Colombo in 1995 to a federation with its own journal, committees and congresses.
- 1995
Founding meeting
Representatives of the region’s societies meet in Colombo during the SLCOG conference.
- 1996
First council and congress
The first formal council and congress are held in Lahore, with about 1,000 delegates.
- 2008
Constitution signed
A new constitution is signed in Colombo, later revised in 2021.
- 2009
Journal launched
The Journal of SAFOG begins publication; the Dhaka Declaration on maternal and neonatal health follows.
- 2014
FIGO–SAFOG conference
A joint conference in Colombo on unmet need in women’s health.
- 2022
Silver Jubilee
The jubilee conference in Colombo welcomes over 500 overseas delegates.
- 2023
14th Congress
The Mumbai congress installs Dr Shyam Desai as President.
- 2026
15th Congress
Held with the 18th NESOG conference in Kathmandu, with more than 500 delegates.
Led by the region.
Office-bearers of the Federation, as listed by SAFOG, drawn from across the member countries.
Nepal
Prof Farhana DewanSecretary General
Prof Lubna HasanPresident Elect
Prof Shyam DesaiImmediate Past President
Prof Yousaf LatifVice President
Prof Narendra MalhotraVice President
Prof UDP RatnasiriVice President
Prof Rowshan Ara BegumDirector International Relations
Dr Padam Raj PantDirector International Relations
Prof Sanath LanerolleTreasurer
Dr Mariam IqbalDeputy Secretary General
Sandesh PoudelAssistant Secretary General
Prof Jaideep MalhotraEditor
Prof Rashid Latif KhanPakistan · President 1996–98
Prof T. A. ChowdhuryBangladesh · President 1998–2000
Dr Lakshman FernandoSri Lanka · President 2000–03
Dr D. K. TankIndia · President 2003–05
Dr Sudha SharmaNepal · President 2005–07
Prof Farrukh ZamanPakistan · President 2007–09
Prof A. B. BhuiyanBangladesh · President 2009–11
Prof H. R. SeneviratneSri Lanka · President 2011–13
Prof Alokendu ChatterjeeIndia · President 2013–15
Prof Ashma RanaNepal · President 2015–17
Prof Rubina SohailPakistan · President 2017–19
Prof Ferdousi BegumBangladesh · President 2019–21
Read, watch, keep learning.
Recorded webinars from the Federation and every issue of the SAFOG Newsletter, free to read.
Webinar library8 recordings
SAFOG NewsletterDrag to browse · 8 issues
October 2024Latest issue · PDF
July 2023PDF
September 2022Silver Jubilee issue · PDF
May 2022PDF
January 2022PDF
2021, issue 2PDF
2021, issue 1PDF
2018First issue · PDF
From the Federation.
The Silver Jubilee SAFOG Conference, Colombo
Held with the 55th SLCOG congress on regional and global partnership in women’s health.
SAFOG’s partnership with UNICEF
Announced at the start of World Breastfeeding Week 2022.
Cervical cancer screening training in Mizoram
FOGSI members trained in augmented VIA, thermal ablation and LEEP, with WHO SEARO support.
Fellowship dinner, Silver Jubilee SAFOG Conference
Partner with the Federation.
For partnerships, sponsorship and enquiries, contact the SAFOG Secretariat in Colombo, hosted by the Sri Lanka College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.