HP+ Supports the Global Effort to Provide Respectful Maternity and Quality Midwifery Care Worldwide
March 1, 2017
On Monday, February 27, HP+ supported the “Midwives’ Voices, Midwives’ Realities” policy dialogue at the Wilson Center, in Washington, DC. The event provided an opportunity to discuss the recently released Midwives Voices, Midwives Realities global survey conducted by the World Health Organization, International Confederation of Midwives, and White Ribbon Alliance. HP+’s work supporting comprehensive midwifery policy reforms was featured at the event, with Nancy Kamwendo, National Coordinator for HP+/White Ribbon Alliance, Malawi, joining the dialogue’s panel to provide a country perspective on the broader global survey findings. HP+/White Ribbon Alliance Malawi (WRA Malawi) recently conducted a “headcount” survey of Malawian midwives that found that only one-third the number of midwives previously thought to be in service are actively providing direct midwifery services. This headcount, highlighting the shortage of midwives needed to provide adequate pre and postnatal care, will inform policy-making decisions on midwifery. WRA Malawi and HP+ have shared the findings with the Ministry of Health, Parliament, citizens, and journalists. This advocacy campaign is paying off. Ministry officials have recently agreed to use the country-level survey data generated by the HP+/White Ribbon Alliance Malawi team to inform their health sector strategic planning process.
