Wilson Center Event: Midwives' Voices, Midwives' Realities

We are excited to announce the upcoming policy dialogue, “Midwives’ Voices, Midwives’ Realities: The Largest Global Survey of Midwives and What It Means for Maternal and Newborn Health.” The event will take place at the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. (and online!) on Monday, 27 February 2017 from 9:30-11:30am. This dialogue is part of the Maternal Health Task Force’s Advancing Policy Dialogue on Maternal Health Series, in partnership with UNFPA and the Wilson Center.

Interested in attending or following along online? See the invitation from the Wilson Center below to learn more and register for the event.

Discrimination, harassment, and lack of professional support and respect are key barriers hindering midwives’ ability to provide lifesaving, quality care to women and newborns, according to findings in the first and largest global survey of midwifery personnel led by the World Health Organization, the International Confederation of Midwives, and White Ribbon Alliance, with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development-funded HP+ project.

The new report, “Midwives’ Voices, Midwives Realities: Findings from a global consultation on providing quality midwifery care,” reveals more than a third (37 percent) of some 2,400 midwives in 93 countries have experienced harassment at work, with many describing a lack of security and fear of violence. Midwives support women and babies throughout their journey to safety every day. It is essential that we hear midwives’ voices and listen to what they have to say.

On February 27, please join us at the Wilson Center for a discussion of the voices and realities of midwives working to bring quality, respectful care for women, newborns, families and communities.

Speakers

Julia Bluestone
Senior Technical Advisor, Education and Training, Jhpiego

Frances Day Stirk
President, International Confederation of Midwives

Roger-Mark De Souza
Director of Population, Environmental Security, and Resilience

Nancy Kamwendo
National Coordinator, White Ribbon Alliance Malawi

Fran McConville
Technical Officer, Midwifery, World Health Organization

Mary Ellen Stanton
Senior Maternal Health Advisor, Bureau for Global Health, U.S. Agency for International Development

Event details

Breakfast will be served at 9:00 AM.

This event is co-sponsored by Frontline Health Workers Coalition, Health Policy Plus, International Confederation of Midwives, Maternal Health Task Force, UN Population Fund, U.S. Agency for International Development, World Health Organization and the White Ribbon Alliance.