Strong Showing for Seed Global Health at the International Confederation of Midwives Regional Conference
A group of Seed staff and Seed-trained midwives attended the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) Regional Conference for Africa and Eastern Mediterranean in Kigali, Rwanda to present original research on critical issues in the field of midwifery, shedding light on important topics and offering solutions. The event brought together midwives across the region, aiming to break down borders, foster collaboration, innovation, and shared learning.
“I felt touched by the experience of midwives working in war zones. How they are risking their lives to save mothers and babies, lives. Apart from just being a midwife, I felt that passion to work and to save lives is the most important attribute for midwives,” said Alice Konyani, a midwife and Seed educator who is educating midwives in Sierra Leone’s second largest city, Bo. “The ICM conference has helped me to have a deep understanding of how midwives are contributing to serve maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in dangerous environments. The experience will be shared with my students to understand the importance of passion, sacrifice and selflessness in midwifery care.”
Winifred Ukoha, a Seed educator who is training midwives at the bachelor’s and master’s degree levels at Lira University in Uganda said, “The highlights of the ICM conference were the three-day workshops: Developing Competent Midwives, Implementing the Postpartum Hemorrhage Bundle, and Helping Babies Breathe. All these sessions were hands-on and informative. The presentations on how midwives work in conflict zones and in some areas affected by natural disasters also were thought-provoking for me. The conference also provided me with networking opportunities with midwives from diverse backgrounds and also networking opportunities with seed educators from other countries. Generally, the conference reignited my passion for midwifery and motivated me to continue providing compassionate, evidence-based care.”
The ICM conference provided a unique platform for Seed educators and midwives to exchange knowledge and experiences with their counterparts from other countries. Seed is incredibly proud of their achievements and contributions to the field of midwifery. Seed remains committed to supporting ongoing research and education to ensure that health workers have the resources they need to save lives.
Some of the papers presented at the conference include:
“Implementing a Longterm Preceptorship Program to Strengthen Clinical Skills of Midwifery Students at the Lusaka College of Nursing and Midwifery” – Angela Chipepo, faculty, Zambia Lusaka College of Nursing and Midwifery (LUCON); Daisy Siakantu, faculty, LUCON; Sarah Ngoma, clinical advisor, Seed Zambia
“Effectiveness of an Obstetric Triage Protocol in Reducing Patient Waiting Time among Pregnant Women at Lira Regional Referral Hospital in Uganda” – Anna Grace Auma and Apili Felister, Lira University Uganda
“Enhancing Safe Motherhood through a Community Midwifery Program: a Case Study at Lira University” – Robert Isoke, midwifery teaching assistant, Lira University, Uganda
“Midwife-led Continuity of Care in Lira District, Uganda” – Winifred Ukoha, Seed educator, Lira University
“Utilizing Dynamic Birthing Positions for Minimizing Perineal Tears in Spontaneous Vertex Deliveries at Limbe Health Center, Blantyre, Malawi” – Stell Alindiamao, midwife, Limbe Health Center
“Enhancing Access to Basic Obstetric Ultrasound Scan among pregnant women attending antenatal care in 1st trimester at Limbe Health Centre, Blantyre, Malawi” – Richard Malirakwenda, clinical advisor, Seed Malawi
“Respectful Maternity Care: Disconnect Between Perspectives and Practices of Midwives from a referral hospital in Kampala, Uganda” – Monicah Andru, midwife, Muni University
“Enhancing Professional Development through structured mentorship: A crucial part of midwifery training at Lira University” – Florence Rita Matte, Seed educator, Lira
“Development and Initiation of a Preceptor Program to Improve Midwifery and Nursing Clinical Education in Sub-Saharan Africa” – Alice Konyani, Seed educator, Sierra Leone
“Multi-step, Collaborative Efforts to Develop the First Scope of Practice for Nurses and Midwives in Sierra Leone” – Julie Mann, associate director of midwifery, Seed.
