At the 50th Annual Meeting for the Society of Gynecologic Oncology on Women’s Cancers (March 16-19) in Honolulu, HI, the invited presidential speaker Agnes Binagwaho, MD, PhD spoke about the need for physicians to pursue political activism.
Happy International Women’s Day! I am THRILLED to have Dr Agnes Binagwaho as the Presidential Speaker at the 50th Annual SGO meeting March 16,2019 in Honolulu! #SGOMtg pic.twitter.com/NQypC458na
— Carol Brown (@drcarolbrownMSK) March 8, 2019
Binagwaho is a Rwandan pediatrician who served as the former health minister of Rwanda for five years (from May 2011 to July 2016). In September 2016, she was appointed as Professor of Global Health Delivery for the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) in Kigali, Rwanda, and, in April 2017, she was named as UGHE’s vice chancellor and chief executive. She currently resides in Kigali.
Throughout her career, Binagwaho has provided clinical care in the public sector and has held a number of positions in project management, health system strengthening, and government service. She has served on many academic boards. Her engagements include research on health equity, HIV/AIDS, information and communication technologies (ICT) in e-health, and pediatric care delivery systems. She has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles, served on the International Advisory Board of Lancet Global Health, the editorial board of "PLoS Medicine" and of "Health and Human Rights: An International Journal", and contributed to multiple books.
After practicing as a pediatrician for over 15 years, Binagwaho led the National AIDS Control Commission between 2002 and 2008. One of her most notable clinical and political achievements, which was discussed at 2019 SGO, was providing HPV vaccinations for more than 90 percent of girls in Rwanda.
94% of girls in Rwanda are vaccinated for HPV- let’s do better USA! #SGOMtg @SGO_org
— Emily Barnard, DO (@dremilybarnard) March 16, 2019
Not only did the talk report on findings from her work, but it focused on rebuilding trust and leveraging social capital to eliminate HPV.
It is not about socialism - giving everyone free things and equalizing salary - it is about rebuilding trust. An incredibly powerful talk by Dr. @agnesbinagwaho on social capital and #cervicalcancer. If you are silent, you too take ownership. #sgo2019 #SGOHawaii50 pic.twitter.com/NEnNe1BoVI
— David Klein MD (@DavidKlein_MD) March 16, 2019
In addition, she emphasized the need for data to drive social activism.
“Data is the best bullet for equity in health”. @agnesbinagwaho #equitymatters #healthcareisahumanright #SGOHawaii50 #WomenLeaders pic.twitter.com/DCZMhDcD7W
— BJ Rimel (@BJRimelMD) March 16, 2019
Binagwaho said that she wanted to see the same happen in America and around the world.
“I want to put you out of business for cervical cancer!” Dr Agnes Binagwaho at #SGOHawaii50 #SGOMtg Amazing opening shot at the SGO President’s Invited Lecture.
— Joe Ng (@drjoeng) March 16, 2019
Her statement on wanting to put cervical cancer doctors out of business resonated with many attendees.
Inspiring and impactful talk by Dr. @agnesbinagwaho. Social capital and reinforcing trust through information and participatory inclusion are keys to effective cancer care and prevention. #SGOMtg #sgohawaii50
— Yvette WilliamsBrown (@MYvetteWB) March 16, 2019
The most amazing presentation by @agnesbinagwaho -a brilliant,dynamic,global female physician leader. I loved her full disclosure “I want to put you (Gyn-Onc) out of business” prevent cervical cancer @drcarolbrownMSK #SGO50Hawaii #SGOMtg #HPVvaccine @beth_karlan pic.twitter.com/CFztrNWSos
— Paula (@pjanastasia) March 16, 2019
Many left the session with newfound motivation to engage in politics.
“What I took away from the talk is that political activism is incredibly important,” said Bobbie J. Rimel, MD, a gynecologic cancer researcher and the associate director for Gynecologic Oncology clinical trials at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. “As a person not in policy, I need to be aware of what strategies are being voted on in my area in regards to health policy. Prior to this talk, I was aware that school-based vaccination might be important, but it did not register for me as it does now. Now, when I’m looking for mayor, city, school board candidates — any space in which health policy would be discussed — I need to demand school-based vaccinations, which is basically how she accomplished such high school-based vaccination rates.”
The first step in eradicating cervix cancer is vaccination. But first, Rwanda had to educate their women they had a cervix. Dr Agnes Binagwaho is a leader and an example we should follow #SGOMTG
— Nnamdi Gwacham (@nnamdigwacham) March 16, 2019
It’s not often you see a standing ovation at a medical conference. @agnesbinagwaho just got one and so well deserved. An inspiring & extraordinary person. Learnt so much from her, if only she could be cloned, then the world would be a better and much healthier place! #SGOmtg
— Rob Music (@robmusic_) March 16, 2019
