Throughout this month, ICM will be working with our charity, WithWomen, to help raise money for two important projects being run by graduates of our Young Midwife Leader Programme – every euro counts, donate now! 

Credit card donations are accepted through the WithWomen website. All funds we raise during this campaign will be divided equally between the two projects. 

This month’s RPC update is from Southeast Asia, discussing India’s move to elevate maternal and newborn health. With three national midwifery training institutes and a focus on ICM standards, the country is pioneering a distinct role for midwives. These strategic advancements mark a crucial shift, aligning practices with global standards and ensuring respectful care for mothers and infants.  

Learn more about India's progressive evolution in maternity care. 

In late November 2023, an advocacy workshop took place in Kyrgyzstan, organized collaboratively by ICM and the Kyrgyz Alliance of Midwives (KAM). The workshop aimed to empower midwives in addressing challenges in Kyrgyzstan. Discussions focused on implementing the Professional Framework for Midwifery to enhance the profession, improve healthcare outcomes, and strengthen associations. Attendees gained vital advocacy skills, laying the foundation for a united and influential voice. ICM will continue to support KAM’s advocacy efforts in 2024.  .  

Midwifery has been honoured by UNESCO, joining the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. From ancient civilisations to modern times, midwives have stood as guardians of women’s health and rights, bringing newborns into the world across diverse cultures and geographies.  

Help us amplify this recognition, don’t miss out on this piece and share it with your community.  

In a groundbreaking partnership between the ICM, the Midwifery Association of Zambia (MAZ) and the Zambian Government, Zambia became one of the first countries to integrate the Midwifery Services Framework (MSF) into their National Health Strategic Plan. This signifies a remarkable shift towards sustainable, high-quality midwifery-led care.  

This collaborative effort promises continued advancements in maternal and newborn healthcare outcomes, setting a shining example for global midwifery excellence. 

Co-developed by ICM and Laerdal, the ICM Midwifery Competencies is a solution to help midwifery educators prepare students for clinical practice.  

Using the SimCapture digital platform, students use low dose, high frequency peer-to-peer learning to practice clinical situations based on the ICM Essential Competencies. Facilitated by a mobile device, teachers get real-time feedback on students’ progress, as well as information on what skills need to be reviewed and practiced in the classroom.  

All the scenarios enable students to have conversations and reflect on respectful communication and consent, situational awareness, informed choice, diversity and equity.  

Join us, USAID MOMENTUM, FIGO, FP2030 and others in an initiative released on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day, rallying global and national stakeholders to scale up voluntary postpartum and postabortion family planning.  

This call to action aims to address unmet family planning needs and enhance maternal and newborn health outcomes. Explore their resources and support this vital initiative for improved healthcare globally.