WHO CC involvement: Professor Caroline Homer, Florence West
On March 2-4 2015, the H4+ (UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNICEF, UN Women) partnership, along with the WHO, the World Bank, and the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) hosted a workshop in Bangkok, Thailand to discuss issues facing midwives in the region. Senior leaders in midwifery education and regulation came together to share experiences and discuss the findings from recent evidence and international movements supporting the advancement of maternal and newborn health. Professor Caroline Homer and Ms Florence West from the WHO CC UTS presented and co-facilitated this event, delivering sessions explaining the impact of care by midwives, and the importance of stabilising under- and over-medicalisation of midwifery in the region. The workshop was also a platform for the launch of the State of the World's Midwifery 2014 report, which highlights the diversity of issues affecting midwifery across the region.
Outcomes of the workshop included the improved understanding of similarities and differences in midwifery issues between countries in the Asia Pacific region. The delegation participated in lively discussions regarding issues affecting midwifery workforce development to increase the availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality of care for women and children.