From 24-26 September 2024, midwives from across the Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean Regions gathered in Kigali, Rwanda, for the first ICM Regional Conference since 2019. Co-hosted by the Rwanda Association of Midwives (RAM), this event marked the start of four regional conferences that ICM will host in 2024-2025, as part of our regional approach to association strengthening. With the theme Midwives 360: Associations for a Changing World, the regional conferences aim to support midwives to develop the skills needed to build and grow strong midwives’ associations, advocate for the profession, and strengthen regional networks. Over 350 midwives from 66 countries came together, with over 30 bursary recipients attending and 79 research posters presented during the event.
Days One and Two: Building Skills for Stronger MAs
The conference kicked off with an inspiring opening ceremony. ICM President Sandra Oyarzo Torres, emphasised the importance of midwives stepping into leadership roles and advocating for policies that support midwifery and sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn and adolescent health (SRMNAH). Olive Tangera, Board Member for Africa, and Farida Shah, Board Member for the Eastern Mediterranean, highlighted the importance of using ICM’s regional approach to networking and collaboration between strong midwives’ associations. The opening ceremony also featured remarks from key health leaders, including Josephine M. Murekezi, President of RAM, and Menelas Nkeshimana, Head of Department of Health Workforce Development at Ministry of Health Rwanda. Mollie Fair from UNFPA and Allisyn Moran, Head of Maternal Health at WHO rounded off the session with messages of collaboration and progress.
As with any great midwives’ gathering, the ceremony ended with dancing, as a troupe of dancers filled the room with the energy, beauty and joy of Rwandan culture.
The real work began after the opening celebrations. Over the next two days, participants dove into workshops designed to build essential skills for strengthening midwives’ associations. The workshop topics were chosen based on information gathered in ICM’s biennial member needs survey, and were delivered by subject experts from ICM’s Head Office. These workshops covered a wide range of topics, from finance and governance to leadership and communications, with each session building towards the goal of creating resilient, well-developed associations. Each day, participants attended multiple workshops, gradually piecing together the knowledge needed to fortify their associations and support the growth of midwifery in their respective regions. One participant commented, “If we had had this knowledge before, we would have been more successful in our grant applications processes.”
On Day Two, the lunch break featured a symposium hosted by MSD for Mothers, focused on empowering midwives with the tools to improve prevention and treatment of postpartum haemorrhage (PPH). This session was a standout for many, with attendees leaving feeling inspired and equipped with new skills.
The two days of learning concluded with a lively conference dinner at a local restaurant, The Hut, providing delegates an informal space to network, share experiences, and celebrate the connections formed throughout the event.
Day Three: Practical Skills and Hands-On Learning
On the final day, midwives participated in a variety of half- and full-day workshops focused on midwifery practice skills, allowing them to deepen their knowledge and gain practical experience. Whether learning about modern contraception, quality abortion care, or twinning for stronger associations, the day was filled with hands-on opportunities for professional growth.
During lunch, participants explored the poster presentations, hearing directly from their peers about the innovative work being done across both regions. The sense of shared learning and collaboration was palpable throughout the day.
As the conference came to a close, the final ceremony brought everything full circle. Board members reflected on the lessons learned over the past three days, urging participants to take their newfound skills and connections back home, sharing their knowledge with fellow midwives to help build stronger associations. The energy in the room was palpable, as everyone left feeling empowered to make a difference in their communities.
Looking Forward
ICM would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Rwanda Association of Midwives, all our workshop facilitators and partners including WHO, UNFPA, Maternity Foundation, Laerdal Global Health, USAID Momentum, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and MSD for Mothers. Of course, a big thank you goes out to all the participants who made this conference a success.
In just a few weeks, ICM is hosting our next regional conference in Berlin, Germany! Don’t miss this event.