Message from the CEO As this newsletter goes out we in The Hague are enjoying a beautiful spring where the trees seem to have turned green overnight and daffodils and blossom abound. We will be releasing the ICM newsletter monthly, instead of quarterly, so we can keep up with the news and provide more condensed, engaging and proactive information to our members and other stakeholders. The 5th of May is the International Day of the Midwife (IDM), and our Communications team have been recording all visitors and staff on their personal thoughts on the subject of partnership between midwives and families for our global advocacy campaign on the day. These recordings will be released daily for the 15 days leading up to IDM and on the day. Close on the heels of IDM is the World Health Assembly in mid-May in Geneva where ICM has the opportunity to draw attention to the importance of an adequately educated, regulated, resourced and supported global midwifery workforce as a key component in addressing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Midwives are essential if rates of maternal and infant death and morbidity are to reduce and must be recognised as a uniquely-skilled professional workforce able to contribute to the objectives of all 16 SDGs. Midwives and midwifery will be celebrated in style at the 31st Triennial Congress in Toronto in June. We’re in the midst of preparing for preceding Board and Council Meetings as well as the Congress itself. There’s a great deal of work involved, but we’re very excited to bring together the single largest group of midwives in the world to celebrate and collaborate at this event. During the Council meeting delegates from Member Associations (MAs) will set ICM's strategic direction for the next triennium and will commit to advocacy goals that not only support our 131 Member Associations, but ensure that their insights are heard around the world. To inform the strategic planning process we are conducting a survey of all MAs over the coming weeks to better understand their needs and aspirations and their expectations of ICM and the Secretariat. The secretariat has a very small staff and limited resources to carry out the enormous task of strengthening midwifery globally so that every woman has access to a midwife’s care for herself and her newborn infant. The results of this survey will help the Council to prioritise ICM’s focus and activities and we encourage you all to participate fully. We look forward to receiving your stories, photos and videos of your celebrations on International Day of the Midwife and we wish you a happy and successful day. Kia Kaha Sally Pairman International Day of the Midwife 2017The #IDM2017 resource pack is now available on our in three official ICM languages. You can download the official IDM logo, posters and all other resources from the links below. ENGLISH: http://bit.ly/2oHd27e FRENCH: http://bit.ly/2o8S0kb SPANISH: http://bit.ly/2oH9WQF Midwives everywhere understand that by working in partnership with women and their families, expectant parents are empowered to make informed decisions about what they need to have a safe and fulfilling birth. This IDM we are inviting and encouraging midwives, mothers and families to share your views, photos and stories using the phrase "I believe in partnership". We will share them on all ICM information platforms as a celebration of the wonderful work that midwives do around the globe. When you share your stories and photos, make sure you include #IDM2017. Click HERE to watch a video example of Nester T. Moyo, ICM's Senior Midwifery Advisor, as she shares her views on partnership between midwives, mothers and families. Send your photos, stories and videos to communications@internationalmidwives.org Virtual International Day of the Midwife (VIDM) 2017 The Virtual International Day of the Midwife (VIDM) is an annual free 24-hour online international conference celebrating midwifery and birth-related matters on IDM. This year sees the 9th annual conference and is organised by individuals having backgrounds in midwifery, education and online facilitation. The committee gives their time voluntarily and is proud to offer this conference entirely free of charge in order to enable midwives, and others interested in the birthing process, to network and participate in continuing professional development. The programme for VIDM is out you and can access it on HERE. The ICM Chief Executive Sally Pairman will be leading the final session. VIDM is still accepting poster presentation throughout April, you can email your poster to info@vidm.org. For more information please visit VIDM.org Get ready for ICM Congress 2017!ICM is delighted to invite you to the 31st ICM Triennial Congress in Toronto Canada, from 18-22 June 2017. You can book in advance for ICM workshops by clicking here. If you have not yet registered, don't delay - register now! Visit the official congress website for important information and updates. Join other midwives from around the world at the Congress Gala Dinner, where guests will enjoy a three-course seated dinner, drinks, dancing and live entertainment! Purchase your ticket for $135 here If you want to unwind after the Congress and enjoy the sights and sounds of Toronto, you can book post Congress tour of the city and Niagara falls here. Tickets are limited, so book well in advance to avoid disappointment. Mapping Global Midwifery: A joint ICM - Direct Relief project The above diagram is a mock example and not final product ICM is working in collaboration with Direct Relief to develop an interactive map that will compile and show comprehensive data about midwifery education, association and regulation around the globe. The map will also detail country statistics on rates of maternal and neonatal outcomes, as well as incidences of C-section. The interactive map will be launched during the 31st ICMTriennial Congress and will be hosted in the ICM website.The data will be sourced predominantly from countries in which ICM's Member Associations operate, in conjunction with other global information sources like WHO. A key priority for ICM in the era of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is to support the collation for vital data to provide better information and analytics about midwifery education, accessibility and activities in all MA countries. News in brief Midwifery Services Framework (MSF) introductory meetings in Zimbabwe and Uganda The Midwifery Services Framework (MSF) for developing Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal and New-born Health (SRMNH) Services was developed by ICM and partners including UNFPA, WHO, JHPIEGO, Sanofi Espoir Foundation and others to support the development and strengthening of midwifery services across all countries, with emphasis on creating and maintaning a quality midwifery workforce. Zimbabwe As maternal newborn health, strengthening and enhancing midwifery are priorities of the Zimbabwe government, in March 27-28 ICM presented the MSF for consideration by the Ministry of Health (MoH) to help support its efforts. To ensure that the MSF process is rolled out with global and national support, a series of meetings were held with MoH, WHO, MCHIP, Save the Children, UNFPA and Zimbabwe Midwives Association. All stakeholders expressed the desire to adopt the MSF tool and and contribute to the implementation process. The agreed next steps include securing a written commitment by MoH to adapt the MSF tool through shared financial support with UNFPA its in country activities. ICM was invited to meet the MoH and its key stakeholders through the midwives association, the Zimbabwe Confederation of Midwives (ZICOM). Uganda In Uganda from 30-31 March, the ICM held a series of meetings with Director General Health Services in Clinical and Community Health in the Ministry of Health, UNFPA and the Midwives Associations (Uganda Private Midwives Association, Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union, Uganda National Midwives Association Taskforce) and the Uganda Council of Nurses and Midwives. During the discussions, midwives expressed hope that the MSF tool would allow for long standing systematic issues to be addressed. Key priorities identified were the need for voices of the midwives to be heard, clarity to be given to the midwifery scope of practice, staffing, recruitment and education issues. The MSF was endorsed by all stakeholders and a commitment was made to begin the next steps for implementation. A committee will be created to oversee the MSF process and ensure the tool is introduced to all the relevant committees in a timely manner. Furthermore, a detailed road map for the implementation of the MSF will be drafted. Congratulations to the first graduates of the Bachelor of Midwifery programme! Afghanistan The First Midwifery Bachelor Graduation Ceremony The Afghanistan Midwives Association (AMA) recently celebrated the first 28 graduates of the Bachelor of Midwifery Programme. The Bachelor of Midwifery Programme was introduced in 2013 by AMA in collaboration with ICM, Zawul Institute of Higher Education (ZIHE), Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE), UNFPA and other partners. In 2014, 28 midwives with a diploma enrolled for the three year Bachelor of Midwifery programme. The goals of the programme are to provide the opportunity for access to higher midwifery education and career advancement, ensure midwives contribute to decision-making at all levels of policy development and implementation and to create opportunities for midwives to learn together at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels in order to ensure cooperative and interdisciplinary working in the interests of better client care. In her keynote address the Minister of Higher Education (MoHE), Dr. Farida Momand said, "Access to higher education for midwives is very important for maternal and child health. I am a witness to the services that midwives provide, 85 percent of maternal and child health services are provided by educated midwives." Dr. Momand further commented, "on behalf of MoHE, I extend my great support to the expansion of midwifery higher education program countrywide"
MoUs for Strengthening midwifery education in Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire and Madagascar signed The project, “Strengthening Midwifery Education in French Speaking Africa”, is taking place in Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar and Comoros. It commenced in late 2016 with support from the Ministries of Health in all three countries to establish Steering Committees and select midwifery schools and clinical sites as participants. This year the first series of half yearly technical supportive visits were conducted in each country with the aim of promoting close collaboration between all stakeholders through the implementation phase. During the visits, in Côte d’Ivoire (March 13-20, 2017) , Comoros (April 2-8, 2017) and Madagascar (April 9-15, 2017) meetings were held with the Ministries of Health and of Higher Education, country Steering Committees, clinical sites and midwifery education institutions to plan the 2017 activities. Memoranda of Understanding were signed in each country. The Comoros Ministry of Health representative signing a memorandum of understanding between his ministry and the Ministry of Education to support the ICM-Sanofi Espoir project to strengthen the education of midwives. The signing ceremony was organized by the National Federation of Associations of Midwives Midwife award winners announced! ICM is delighted to announce the Marie Goubran, Research and Education award winners. Marie Goubran Award 2016 Joanna Stancheva - Midwives Association of Bulgaria Marie Goubran Award 2017 1. Kiran Mubeen - Midwives Association of Pakistan Research Award 2017 1. German Alejandro Araya Reabal - Colegio de Matronas de Chile 2. Michaela Michel-Schuldt - German Midwives Association 3. Karamatou Banhbola - Association de Sages-femmes de Benin 4. Laxmi Tamang - Midwifery Society of Nepal Education Award 2017 1. Mumtihana Muchlis, Indonesia - Indonesia Midwives Association 2. Alex James - Tanzania Midwives Association To read the summary of the award criteria and the winning proposals click HERE New ICM Members around the globe In March the ICM Board approved two Member Association to join the ICM family. This brings the global figures for ICM membership to 131 midwives associations in 113 countries. Full member 1. Independent Midwives Association (AMI) of Romania Affiliate member 1. Arab State Midwifery Network For more information about membership click HERE Photo Snippets Members of the ICM Executive Committee during their March meeting in The Hague. From (L to R) Chief Executive - Sally Pairman, President - Frances Day-Stirk, Vice President - Address Malata and Treasurer - Ingela Wiklund A cross section of midwifery students in Côte d'Ivoire. ICM through Sanofi Espoir Foundation support is implementing a project on strengthening midwifery in the country. Nester Moyo, ICM Midwifery Advisor stressing a point to participants during a review of midwifery practice regulation with the Zimbabwe Confederation of Midwives "Fare thee well" . Some of ICM staff in a group photo with Martha Bokosi - Project Coordinator (4th from right) who has relocated to Malawi to affirm ICM's regional presence. From R-L Sally Pairman, Charlotte Renard, Patricia Titulaer (behind), Nester Moyo, Janet Lewis, Melinda Dudas and Shantanu Garg Upcoming Events 25 April - Malaria Day28 April - World Day for Safety and Health at Work 05 May - International Day of the Midwife 23 May - International Day to End Obstetric Fistula 18-22 June - 31st ICM Triennial Congress
For more information and current news on ICM visit: Website: www.internationalmidwives.org FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/InternationalConfederationofMidwives/ Twitter: @world_midwives 31st ICM Triennial Congress: www.midwives2017.org |