Message from the CEAs we approach the end of the year everyone at Head Office is experiencing major changes. This month, we bid farewell to the woman who helped ICM to become all that it is today: Nester T. Moyo, who will presumably take to retirement with the same enthusiasm and energy that she takes to everything else in life. After 17 years of dedicated commitment to midwives and midwifery at the global level, spearheading countless programmes and initiatives to create lasting impact on the lives of women and their newborns all over the world, Nester’s cheery disposition and unparalleled wisdom will be dearly missed by all of us at Head Office, within our Midwives Associations, and beyond. See more about Nester’s retirement HERE. However, change brings with it new faces and new forces at ICM’s Head Office. We are delighted to welcome Ann Yates as our incoming Lead Midwife Advisor and Florence West in the role of Midwife Advisor. Both Ann and Florence bring considerable experience and expertise in midwifery across high, middle and low income countries. Their insights and energy will help ICM continue to lead on its objectives to raise the profile of midwives and strengthen midwifery globally in every setting and every region. Read the profiles of Ann and Florence HERE. In mid-November I had the pleasure of attending the Fourth Global Human Resources for Health conference in Dublin, Ireland. I attended a wide variety of sessions around the themes of health regulation and workforce development, met with several partner organisations and presented on a panel on how regulation can ensure midwives are more skilled, resourced, supported and respected in delivering high-quality and respectful maternity care. The month ended with meetings here in The Hague of the Finance and Risk Committee followed by the Executive Committee. We continued our work on ICM’s Strategic Directions for the triennium and expect to have a final version circulated to members in early 2018. The Board met by teleconference to discuss the business case analyses conducted on both Abu Dhabi and Berlin as the two locations shortlisted by Council in June. Our Congress Manager, C-IN, undertook a detailed analysis of each bid, secured firm prices from the potential Congress venues and produced a very comprehensive report for the Board. In selecting Abu Dhabi as the location of the 2023 Congress the Board carefully weighed up finances, access/visas, travel costs, potential attendance numbers, the impact on midwifery in each country and potential financial return. We congratulate the Midwives Section of the Emirates Nursing Association in their successful bid to host the Congress and we thank the German Association of Midwives for the work they put into making their bid. Both associations have been informed of the outcome and I very much appreciate the assistance received from both as we transitioned to a new process for deciding the location of future ICM Congresses. As I write this I am about to leave for a two-day trip to Laerdal Global Health in Stavanger, Norway, accompanied by Franka Cadee and Florence West. Building on the success of 10,000 Happy Birthdays, ICM is embarking on a new project with Laerdal Global Health - 50,000 Happy Birthdays. Florence will lead the project for ICM and we hope to extend essential skills training to another 50,000 midwives over the next two years. This is an ambitious target and we look forward to working with the Member Associations in each country to roll out this programme. The selection of the final countries will take place this week and will be announced in the December newsletter. As the end of the year fast approaches with celebrations and holidays for many, I wish you well in your end of year activities. Kia Kaha Sally Pairman Chief Executive ORBITUARY ICM mourns the passing of Felicity Aliana Ukoko, a formidable midwife who supported countless women and newborns during her career, which spanned over 25 years in Zimbabwe, the United Kingdom, and Nigeria. Felicity fearlessly navigated political spaces, health frameworks and development summits to promote the delivery of Respectful Maternity Care as a champion for White Ribbon Alliance, and in her role as Head of Midwifery and Programmes at the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, her MamaCare Antenatal Education classes saved the lives of thousands of mothers and babies. Felicity was a powerhouse with a heart of gold, and her legacy will live on in her family, friends, and the lives she has forever changed. News Brief Cyprus midwives humanise care for their pregnant women Franka Cadée, ICM President with Cyprus Ministry of Health Officials Since my inauguration, the first midwifery association I have had the pleasure to visit officially was the Midwives Section of the Cyprus Nurses and Midwives Association. And what a pleasure it was to speak at their national congress in November, visit a maternity unit, discuss midwifery at the Ministry of Health and speak to midwife students! Cyprus counts some 280 dedicated midwives led by their President Stella Leontiou. Cyprus midwives are extremely proactive and optimistic under challenging circumstances and serious over-medicalisation. Click HERE to read more Fare thee well Nester! Nester T Moyo ICM's Senior Midwifery Advisor retires after 17 years of dedicated commitment to midwifery and midwives globally. Over the years her efforts have strengthened ICM as an organisation and positively impacted on all our Member Associations growing from 30 to 131 over the 17 years of Nester's tenure. "I am proud to be a midwife," says Nester T Moyo, adding, "I enjoy working with women and sharing the miracles of birth, but also supporting the families where the whole miracle of birth does not go well." Click HERE to read more Nester T Moyo, former ICM Senior Midwifery Advisor Meet New ICM Staff Ann Yates Ann joins ICM as Lead Midwife Advisor, she brings more than 40 years of midwifery, practice, leadership and professional experience. She has been actively involved in the promotion of normal childbirth, choice for women and the development of the midwifery profession through the New Zealand College of Midwives and in Papua New Guinea. Click HERE to read more Florence West Florence joins the ICM team as a Midwife Advisor, responsible for the 50, 000 Happy Birthdays project supported by Laerdal Global Health. She holds a Bachelor Degree in Nursing, Midwifery Graduate Diploma, Master of Public Health and PhD Midwifery. Click HERE to read more FIRST TOUCH World Record Infant Massage feedback Were you part of the First Touch world record-breaking infant massage lesson at the ICM Triennial Congress in Toronto? We would like to hear your feedback on how the lesson has helped you, tell us how you are using the baby you received during the event! What is your baby doing now? Is it still helping to teach massage skills or is it having other adventures? We would love to know. Send your stories, photos or videos to communications@internationalmidwives.org or Tweet, post a message on Facebook about what your baby is doing, how are you using the baby. Don't forget to tag @world_midwives #babymassage Photo snippets "Partnership" (L-R)- Laerdal Global Health Chairman, Tore Laerdal; ICM Chief Executive Sally Pairman; Laerdal Programme Development & Implementation Specialist, Alemnesh Reta; ICM Midwife Advisor (50,000 Happy Birthdays) Florence West (Behind); ICM President Franka Cadée and Global Associated Programme & Implementation Manager, Anna af Ugglas. Chairman of Laerdal Global Health, Tore Laerdal and ICM Midwife Advisor (50,000 Happy Birthdays) Florence West pose for a picture with a training mannequin L-R ICM Chief Executive, Sally Pairman; out going Senior Midwifery Advisor, Nester T Moyo and new Lead Midwife Advisor, Ann Yates at Nester's farewell party. Violet Kaonga, 2016 Education Award Winner (5th L) from Malawi, poses for a photo with midwives who participated in the mentorship workshop to improve midwifery education in Malawi ICM Staff Charlotte Renard (L) and Donnica Henry- Frijlink (R) presenting Nester (not in picture) with a photo memory book on behalf of all member associations and staff. Shop ICM ICM welcomes you to purchase several products in our store. For more information click HERE Upcoming events 25 Nov-10 Dec: 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence 1 Dec: World AIDS Day 10 Dec: Human Rights Day For more information and current news on ICM Website: www.internationalmidwives.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InternationalConfederstionofMidwives/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/world_midwives Flickr: ICM Photos |