Practicing self-care is essential for midwives. It’s also essential for busy Delegates of the 33rd ICM Triennial Congress.  

That’s why the PUSH — a decade-long campaign for women and the midwives who protect and uphold their rights and bodily autonomy — is hosting a series of self-care activities, including yoga, sound baths and sessions with self-care experts. Throughout Congress, PUSH is also hosting a Lounge directly outside of the main plenary session hall to provide Delegates with a much-needed relaxation space to visit in between sessions.

For more information about the lounge, and to register for the PUSH-hosted self-care activities, click here.  

Please note that there is a limited number of spaces available for these activities. Those who register in advance through Eventbrite will be required to confirm their attendance via an automated email 24hrs in advance of the activities’ start time. Failure to confirm may result in your spot being given to another Delegate.  

These activities and the PUSH Lounge are only available to Delegates of the 33rd ICM Triennial Congress.  

ICM and Laerdal will be hosting a lunch exhibition satellite symposium called Digital learning and hands-on practice to reach ICM’s Essential Competencies during lunch at the ICM Congress on 12 June. This is an excellent opportunity to get to know a new tool that can help your students - and make your teaching easier.   

Please join us for a 60-min interactive session focused on how digitally guided, peer-to-peer training can increase the quality of education for student midwives. With a focus on bridging theory with practice, learn how to both free up time and resources for educators while helping students meet the Essential Competencies for Midwifery Practice as defined by ICM.

On-Demand Recordings:
Can't make it in person? Register for on-demand recordings here.

In April, members of the Midwives’ Association of Zambia (MAZ) and Midwifery Services Framework (MSF) project stakeholders participated in an advocacy workshop, facilitated by staff of the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM). The workshop, organised collaboratively by ICM and MAZ, was part of the implementation of the MSF and aimed to build the advocacy capacity of MAZ and MSF stakeholders. 

“The Advocacy Workshop was a resounding success,” said Kennedy Mwila, Resource Mobilisation Officer for MAZ. “Participants left the workshop with increased knowledge and skills in advocacy and a renewed commitment to advancing the needs of midwives and improving the quality of midwifery services in Zambia.” 

This Council and Congress 2023 is the time that quite a few governance changes will take final effect. All our MAs have been involved in this process over the past six years, and we have been communicating about it extensively, with very good feedback from our MAs.  

To refresh your memory before Council: 

-ICM is transitioning to a smaller Board, with an equitable number of Regional Board members, one from each of the six ICM regions 

 

-The Independent Election Committee implemented a competency-based model to assess Board member nominees. This process will give the Board the needed competencies.  

 

-The regions have voted to select their regional Board Members who will be presented to Council as binding nominations, for Council endorsement 

 

-The new treasurer is not a midwife and is appointed by the Independent Election Committee, to be ratified by Council 

 

-There are two nominees for President and the vote will take place at Council 

 

-Regarding the role of Vice President, the IEC stated that no suitable candidate was found after two rounds of nominations. It is now up to the new board to decide how to organise this role. 

 

The Congress is a handover period, the current Board and President will remain in place until the Closing Ceremony, when the formal handover will happen. Handover meetings will begin after the Council meeting and after Congress as needed. 

ICM Staff, including the Chief Executive, Leadership Team and other staff will continue to fulfil their responsibilities as normal, as employees of ICM their roles do not transition at Council or Congress. 

Last month, on the same day as the International Day of the Midwives (IDM), we observed World Hand Hygiene Day.  

Hand hygiene?saves millions of lives every year when performed at the right moments during healthcare delivery.?Clean care is a sign of respect to those who seek care, and it protects midwives and other health workers who provide that care.    

Now is a critical time when countries across the world need to accelerate implementation of lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and increase investments to close gaps in infection prevention and control (IPC), including hand hygiene. Together, we can galvanise action on preventing infections and antimicrobial resistance in health care.?Strong and engaged communities of health workers, policy makers and civil society organizations can accelerate and sustain action at the point of care to keep people safe and healthy.