WHO CC involvement: Professor Caroline Homer, Professor Pat Brodie
Adjunct Professor Pat Brodie from the WHO CC UTS attended the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) Inaugural Stakeholder's Engagement Meeting 2015 in The Hague, Netherlands.
The objectives of the meeting were to bring together diverse stakeholders from the non-government organization and private sector communities who share a goal to improve the health and wellbeing of women and babies and, to share ICM Strategic Directions 2014-2017 such as: Identify common goals and objectives; explore with participating organizations how they might contribute to the achievement of ICM strategic objectives; ascertain areas of mutual interest for collaboration and engagements; begin discussion on the formation of new, strengthening of existing partnerships; share ICM achievements to date and discuss work through the lens of the global reproductive, maternal, newborn, adolescent and child health (RMNACH) architecture and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Frances Day-Stirk, President of ICM opened the proceedings and Frances Ganges, CEO of ICM outlined the key achievements, in particular the forging of new partnerships, memorandum of understandings and specific project agreements; for example the development of a film on normal birth with Medical Aid films.
One of the key challenges noted at the meeting was how to encourage governments to take responsibility for maternal and newborn health in their own countries. As the United Nations development framework moves from Millennium Development Goals to Sustainable Development Goals 2030 keeping midwifery high on the agenda is imperative.