ICM Newsletter August 2016

 

 

ICM Newsletter

October - November 2016 

Welcome to the October-November issue with a special focus on the launch of the Midwives' Realities, Midwives' Voices Report. The report was launched on October 13 at the WHO headquarters in Geneva, with ICM, WHO, WRA, USAID and several other stakeholders participating. Following the official launch of the groundbreaking report,  a "voices and realities" photo campaign was initiated to give opportunity for more midwives to tell their stories. Through this and other activities, ICM urges all to promote the report's findings and galvanised global, national and local leaders to support midwives and midwifery for the advancement of maternal-newborn health around the world.  

 

  

Midwives' Voices, Midwives' Realities: Findings from a global consultation on providing quality midwifery care. 

The International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), World Health Organization (WHO), White Ribbon Alliance (WRA) and partners are calling for an end to the discrimination, harrassment

and lack of respect that hinder midwives' ability to provide quality care to women and newborns. 

The challenges midwives face

“Just as we are all committed to the highest quality care for all women, newborns  and their families, so must we be united in our fervour to ensure that the midwifery workforce is supported by quality education, regulation, and safe working conditions,” says Frances Ganges, ICM Chief Executive. “Midwives must be respected, compensated and valued as equally as other professionals." Click HERE to read more  Young Midwifery Leaders (YMLs) echoes their voices. 

Following the launch of the Midwives' Voices, Midwives' Realities, two YMLs shared their voices on what they are doing in their countries to advance the midwifery agenda. Magbule Elezi from Kosovo and Yoana Stancheva from Bulgaria share their stories.   Magbule Elezi - YML and President of the Kosovo Association of Midwives; echoes her voice on strategies and vision ensuring the association and midwifery thrive in her country. Read more HERE

 

Yoanna Stancheva, a YML shares her voice about Bulgarian midwives and her 'Zebra midwives', which is the only midwifery practice registered in the country. Read more HERE    Midwives' Voices, Midwives' Realities photo campaign

We asked midwives around the world to share their photos, voices and realities. We received an overwhelming response and amazing photos. Many shared how proud they feel to be midwives and to play such a vital role in supporting the health of mothers, newborns and their families. All photos shared were used with permission from the midwives and the families featured in them.

We are happy to share some of these photos and voices in this newsletter. You can view more photos and voices on our Facebook page .

It's not too late for your voice to be heard! Please help us spread the word for midwives to continue sending us more photos, voices and realities and we will be happy to share them on our Facebook, Website and Twitter pages. Send to communications@internationalmidwives.org 

 

 

 

 

Somos una equipo de matronas y estudiantes en reunión ,muy felices como docentes de formar con alegría a las futuras matronas para el mundo.Yo Soy la de la izquierda con chaqueta blanca y los brazos en alto - Maria Ruth Del Valle Muñoz, Chile, Sudamérica

If we get birth and early motherhood right we must be on the right tracks to a caring, kind inclusive society. I love working independently, building relationships with women and their families and being part of their lives when they become parents. -Kay Hardie UK Independent midwife

The best part of my job as a midwife is being with the woman and assist her to have a safe delivery. Secondly I like to impart my knowledge to novice midwives and midwifery students as a preceptor in clinical area. - Annette Semo, Midwife in Papua New Guinea  

"I have been a midwife for 27 years. I have been heartbroken, disrespected, challenged and overwhelmed. BUT so much more than that is the total love from families when you assist their transition to parents, aunties, uncles, grandparent and great grandparent. I would not change this lifestyle to any other choice ever." - DawnMcHugh

I attend homebirths with other colleagues in my own private company called Néixer a Casa (Born at Home), we work with women and families side by side. Homebirth in Spain is not a public option. We are working hard to be financed by the public health system. I'm proud of being a midwife and I love to share with mothers and families the magic moment of birth - Luci Alcatraz, Spain - Midwife for 16 years  

Je m'appelle Chebabe Milouda, sage-femme au Maroc depuis 15 ans. Ci-joint les photos avec mes étudiantes dans un atelier de réanimation du nouveau né.

We love taking care of babies and sometimes we also have fun in our unit! - Janet Baraka Mwambona, Midwife Tanzania

Go ahead midwives to help mothers and babies survive! Gina Rabefitia, Midwife Madagascar Healthy Start Campaign

Join midwives, doctors, nurses and other health professionals around the world by taking action for quality healthcare for all by 2030. 

ICM in collaboration with WaterAid and the Commonwealth Nurses and Midwives Federation have launched this global campaign for quality healthcare for al, through water, sanitation and hygiene. 

Join us and together lets campaign for quality health care for all. Here is what you can do.

1. Sign the petition HERE

2. Access  the campaign resources and action materials  i.e. key messages, statistics, petition texts, letters, press releases, templates and social media toolkit. Click HERE

3. Send us your story or photo and we will publish it in our information platforms. Send to communications@internationnalmidwives.org

(c) All photos courtesy of WaterAid

 

ICM's President's diary

If you missed recent activities of the ICM President, Frances Day-Stirk you can read them from HERE.

In the past months the president was in Glasgow, Toronto, China, Hong Kong, Bulgaria and Trinidad and Tobago; in the spirit of advancing midwifery agenda in different forums around the globe. 

 Photo Snippets: ICM's participation in the UNGA

During this years' United Nations General Assembly with the theme - "Sustainable Development Goals: A Universal Push to Transform our World", ICM was represented by the Vice President, Professor Address Malata and Dorothea Lange - ICM's representative to the UN. 

The Vice President participated as a moderator in a side event organized by American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) and the Survive & Thrive Global Development Alliance. The side event addressed the importance of global partnerships in sustaining development and strengthening implementation (SDG Goal #17) with regard to maternal, newborn and child survival (SDG Goal #13).

Prof. Malata also participated in several other side events and meetings i.e. The Partnership for Maternal Newborn & Child Health in Support of Every Woman Every Child, Youth voices for young lives:  how young people and governments are partnering to improve adolescent health, the Role of Medical Professional Organisations in Global Health among others. 

See photos below of her participation.  

Former President of United Republic of Tanzania, HE. Jakaya Kikwete (l) with ICM Inaugural Ambassador HE. Toyin Saraki (c) and ICM Vice President, Prof. Address Malata (l). President Kikwete is in the High-level Advisory Group for Every Woman Every Child who will provide leadership in transitioning to the SDGS

"More support and partnerships needed to support the midwives." George Nkhoma (Left) a midwife from Malawi with ICM Vice President, Prof. Address Malata and another participant. 

Group photo showing solidarity

ICM Representatives - Vice President, Prof. Address Malata (Behind left), Dorothea Lange (Seated right) with other participants. Midwives and the work they do was the centre of discussions in several meetings including during the launch of 'The Lancet series on maternal health.'

Partnering in ensuring all pregnant women, newborns and their families receive quality of care. ICM Vice President, Prof. Address Malata with UNFPA Deputy Representative, Dr. Natalia Kanem

Group photo with partners 

Upcoming events

14 November - World Diabetes Day  

14 November - Global Symposium on   Health Systems Research

14-20 November - World Antibiotic Awareness Week  

17 November - World Prematurity Day

  

For more information and current news on midwives and midwifery visit: 

Website: www.internationalmidwives.org  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InternationalConfederationofMidwives/

Twitter: @world_midwives International Confederation of MidwivesYou are receiving this mail because you have signed up to ICM Newsletters

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