HISTORY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF O&G 

The Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology was established in 1967 along with the College of Medicine, with Prof. E. W.L. Thompson as the first Head of Department. The first Nigerian Acting Head of Department was Prof. J.B.Akingba, however, Prof. Oladele Akinla was the first Nigerian Substantive Head and the first Nigerian full Professor of Obstetrics and (Gynaecology in the University of Lagos. The department is one of 11 departments in the College of Medicine and part of the largest of the four Schools of the College, Which is the School of Clinical Sciences. The Provost. and the School College Deans who report to the Provost, oversee the college.

The department functioned as one unit until 1980 when, under the Headship of Prof. A Agboola, it was divided into four subunit - Oncology and Pathological Studies, Experimental and Maternal Medicine, Ultrasound and Fetal Medicine and Reproductive Endocrinolgy and Fertility Regulation. In 1980 the department also set up its own Family Planning Unit under the Unit of Reproductive Endocrinology and Fertility Regulation which was a research-based clinic funded by grants and donations. These Units are still fully operational.

The Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology operates in conjunction with Lagos University Teaching Hospital. The Academic staff of the College are Honorary Consultants to the Hospital, conducts its clinical activities and provide the services of the hospital.

The Department has always provided antenatal care and delivery for booked patients. It also accepts unbooked patients and treats obstetric and gynalecological emergencies admitted through the Accident and Emergency Unit. Each unit conducts separate antenatal clinics and gynaecological outpatient clinics for elective referrals and provides appropriate gynaecological surgical procedures. The Family Planning Unit provides all the modern types of family planning methods including sterilisation which can be performed on an outpatient basis. In addition, it provides low cost uterine evacuation when indicated using Manual Vacuum Aspiration.

The administrative structure consists of a Head of Department who oversees the running of the department. Each Unit has a head and up to four Consultants. Senior and Junior doctors in the Residency Training Programme are allocated to Units and assist in the management of patients. In addition, Associate Lecturers are appointed from Ayinke House and Lagos Island Maternity Hospital to assist with the training of medical students. Non-academic staff are provided by the College of Medicine and LUTH to complement the academic staff in performing their duties.

The Department has been accredited by the National Universities Commission for the training of undergraduate students to become Doctors of Medicine. It has also been accredited by the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and the West African College of Surgeons for the training of Postgraduate doctors in Obsterics and Gynaecology.

The Lecturers participate in the training of student nurses and midwives in conjunction with the School of Nursing and Midwifery. The Family Planning Clinic has run man training courses for Doctors and Nurses in Family Planning, Manual Vacuum Aspiration, Emergency Obstetric Care and Post-abortion Care, nationwide.

The Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology can list amongst its achievements, the birth in 1989 of the first baby in West, East and Central Africa conceived by IVF (In-Vitro - Fertilisation) or Test-tube-baby, by the work of Prof. O. F. Giwa-Osagie and Prof. 0. Ashiru, of the department of Anatomy. Assoc. Prof. E. E. Emuyeyan has established the treatment pregnant HIV/AIDS positive mothers and their unborn babies, as an ongoing service in preventing the passage of the disease by vertical transmission. Research into this is still in progress.

The Department was one of the first to introduce laparoscopic procedures including sterilisation to Nigeria. It is now in the process of introducing endoscopic gynaecological surgery. A Colposcopy Clinic for the early detection and treatment of cervical cancer is in the process of being set up. Other special areas of research and clinical interest include, management of women with Sickle Cell Anaemia in pregnancy, prenatal diagnosis, gynaecological endocrinology, fertility and infertility management.

The Department consists of highly experienced, nationally and internationally renowned academic staff that are in a position to further train medical students and Postgraduates in Obsterics and Gynaecology. Many collaborate with international organisations and Societies such as the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, International Federation of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians, and many others in America, Great Britain and Ireland, South Africa etc, as well as providing Consultancy to many international Donor Agencies and NGOs. .
The staff of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, are in a position to continue to provide Consultancies globally. By their training of postgraduate doctors, they can combat the effect of the "brain drain" of specialists on the sub region, thereby strengthening the existing healthcare system.