Dr. Vijayalakshmi Chandrasekhar She graduated with MBBS degree from the Andhra Medical College at the top of her class securing medals in physiology, pathology, medicine, midwifery and also the best outgoing student and was awarded the President’s Silver Medal for scoring the highest marks in MBBS among the girls at the national level by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. She was also awarded the Pfizer Gold Medal for being university first. She obtained her MD in 1984. She has completed MBA in Hospital Administration from Andhra University in 2015. Her interests are thematic philately, Carnatic music and yoga.
Landmark conferences often issue commemorative postage stamps and/or pictorial first day covers, highlighting the core theme of the event. This paper details the content of stamps and first day covers released during five obstetrics and gynaecology- related world and Asia Oceanic conferences.
Keywords : First day covers , Conferences , Obstetrics and gynecology
FIGO XVIII World Conference of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Malaysia 1954
Malaysia issued a set of three stamps on 06 November 2006 to commemorate 18th World Conference of Gynaecology and Obstetrics held in Kuala Lumpur under the aegis of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO—Fédération Internationale de Gynécologie et d’Obstétrique) (Fig. 1).
Founded on 26 July 1954 in Geneva to promote the wellbeing of women and to raise the standard of practice in obstetrics and gynaecology, FIGO works to enable every woman achieve active participation in her own health and rights, and receive the highest possible standards of health care. These world congresses are held once in three years. The 30 sen stamp bears the FIGO logo in the centre and five multicoloured petals of a flower symbolic of a universal representation of women. The green background represents continued progress and growth for women.
Two 50 sen stamps were issued. One stamp depicting a woman against the backdrop of a map of the world against a pink background symbolizing good gynaecological health.
The other stamp features a graphical representation of a pregnant woman against a backdrop of the world with the blue background representing the male gender. The rays of the rising sun symbolize hope [1].
The 5th World Congress on Gynaecology and Obstetrics, 23–30 September 1967, Sydney
The 5th World Congress on gynaecology and obstetrics was held in Sydney between 23 and 30 September 1967. Souvenir first day covers were released on 20 September that year designed by Mr Robert Ingpen [2].
The 4c stamp depicts an infertile non-ovulating woman seated on the left and successful ovulation induction in the woman on the right, primed for conception. The female symbol in the centre in black and white also reflects the same. The first day cover artwork depicts a stork carrying a newborn to imply success in treating subfertility (Fig. 2).
Another first day cover artwork has the picture of a nurse carrying a newborn after conducting a safe delivery. The stethoscope set against the map of Australasia emphasizes the availability of proper antenatal care by qualified health care providers (Fig. 3).
The 9th World Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tokyo, Japan, 25 to 31 October 1979
A special 50 yen postage stamp released to commemorate the conference depicts a woman and an embryo in utero. The artwork designed by Mr. Minoru Hisano highlights the importance of maternal and foetal welfare (Fig. 4). The conference was organized by the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Japan Association for Maternal Welfare [3].
FIGO 11th World Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics Berlin (West) 15–20 September 1985
The congress held in Berlin, Germany, coincided with the 100th anniversary of the German Society for Gynecology and Obstetrics [4]. A 60 Deutschmark postage stamp issued to commemorate the event has the FIGO emblem with the silhouette of a woman in green body suit to symbolize good health, standing under an arch of green leaves to imply growth and fertility (Fig. 5).
The artwork on the first day cover is set in the mediaeval era, having a parturient seated on a birthing chair supported by a midwife, while the accoucheur is performing an internal examination. These birthing chairs were traditionally handed down generations until delivery in reclining position became vogue [3].
The 10th Asian and Oceanic Congress of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Sri Lanka, 1985
The 10th Asian and Oceanic Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in September 1985, with theme of Health of the Mother and Child by the Year 2000.
A first day cover and postage stamp were released on 9 February 1985 to commemorate the event. It depicts an ovoid outline containing a representation of a mother breastfeeding a robust-looking infant to symbolize good antenatal care and the importance of mother’s milk in ensuring the health of her baby (Fig. 6).
Conflict of interest The author declares that she has no conflict of interest.
Alexander Stamps and Coins Ltd. Website India stamp ghar. 2006. Report on the Vth World Congress of Gynaec & Obst 1967. J Int Fed
Obstet Gynaecol. 1967;5(4):273–97.
Sakamoto S, Tojo S, Nakayama T. Gynecology and obstetrics: proceedings of the IX World Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tokyo, October 25–31, 1979. New York: Excerpta Medica.
Abstracts XIth World Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics Berlin (West) September 15–20, 1985. Arch Gynecol. 1885;237(1):1–406.
