Professor Priya Soma-Pillay of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Pretoria (UP) was recently elected Vice-President of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), an organisation comprising more than 140 member societies. The appointment took place during FIGO’s biannual World Congress, hosted at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. The event was attended by about 6 000 obstetricians and gynaecologists as well as 2 000 industry delegates representing pharmaceutical companies and allied sectors.

FIGO, which is headquartered in London, serves as a global voice for women’s health. The organisation leads international initiatives to improve the health and well-being of women and girls, reduce inequalities in healthcare access, and advance the practice of obstetrics and gynaecology. It collaborates closely with major global institutions such as the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Population Fund, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

“Women’s health during pregnancy remains one of the most pressing global challenges,” says Prof Soma-Pillay, who is a maternal and foetal medicine subspecialist with a research focus on high-risk pregnancies and maternal morbidity and mortality – maternal morbidity refers to any illness, injury or adverse health outcome experienced by a woman during pregnancy or childbirth. “Most maternal deaths still occur in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia.”

Prof Soma-Pillay previously served two terms on FIGO’s Council and was a member of the FIGO Preterm Birth Committee. In her new role as Vice-President, she will oversee FIGO’s Education, Communication and Advocacy Committee.

“A key aspect of my portfolio will be to strengthen research implementation that informs standardised best-practice recommendations, health education and training for gynaecologists, general practitioners, midwives and other healthcare professionals,” she says. “The ultimate goal is to improve women’s health outcomes globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where the disease burden is greatest.”

She notes that many causes of morbidity and mortality affecting women and children are preventable.

“For example, cervical cancer can be eliminated through HPV vaccination. In Australia, where the vaccine is routinely administered to girls aged 12, cervical cancer is on track for elimination. South Africa has begun implementing HPV vaccination, and other vaccines given during pregnancy are significantly reducing childhood mortality by lowering the risk of neonatal infections.”

Prof Soma-Pillay points out that South Africa’s top four causes of maternal mortality – HIV/AIDS, hypertension, postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) and medical disorders –have remained unchanged over the past two to three decades.

“Many PPH cases occur without identifiable risk factors, which highlights the importance of early detection and rapid intervention,” she explains.

At the Cape Town-hosted World Congress, new international guidelines for PPH management were jointly launched by FIGO, WHO and the International Confederation of Midwives.

“While we have made progress in reducing HIV-related maternal deaths, much more must be done to address all four major causes,” Prof Soma-Pillay says.

Within South Africa’s public healthcare system, she advocates for better training of general practitioners in women’s and child health, particularly in underserved rural areas.

“Our universities provide some of the best hands-on clinical training globally,” she notes. “Students from Europe and Australia frequently undertake electives in South Africa, funded by their home institutions, to gain practical experience in our diverse healthcare settings.”

Prof Soma-Pillay adds that UP’s Faculty of Health Sciences has extended training opportunities to students from conflict-affected regions.

“This year, 10 medical students from Gaza joined our faculty for clinical electives, funded by the Gift of the Givers Foundation, which also supports similar initiatives at the Universities of Cape Town and the Witwatersrand. We have also expressed readiness to host elective students from Ukraine, and we currently train supernumerary fellows from Sudan who are pursuing subspecialty qualifications. In addition, specifically in the field of women’s health, we have memoranda of understanding with universities in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Australia to facilitate academic exchange and capacity building in this critical focus area.”

Another crucial issue that South Africa is facing is that of teenage pregnancy. Prof Soma-Pillay describes it as “a multifaceted social and health challenge requiring coordinated efforts across the government, education, healthcare and communities”. She emphasises the importance of “accessible contraception, comprehensive reproductive education and youth development programmes, including sports and cultural initiatives, to support holistic growth and well-being among young people”.