International Day of the Midwife (IDM) is annually observed across the globe on 5th May to celebrate and recognise the contribution of the midwives across the world.
- The day celebrates the achievements of the midwives towards improving newborn, maternal, reproductive, and sexual health outcomes.
Midwives are the healthcare professionals who provide support and care for women during pregnancy, labour and birth.
The theme of the IDM 2023 is “Together again: from evidence to reality”.
- Every year the theme of IDM is chosen by the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), an accredited non-governmental organisation representing midwives and midwifery.
Background:
The idea of the “International Day of the Midwife”- a day to recognize and honour midwives – came out of the 1987 International Confederation of Midwives(ICM) conference in the Netherlands.
- International Midwives’ Day was first celebrated on 5th May 1991 and has been observed in over 50 nations around the world.
About Midwifery:
Midwifery is defined as skilled, knowledgeable and compassionate care for childbearing women, newborn infants and families across the continuum from prepregnancy, pregnancy, birth, postpartum and the early weeks of life.
Key Points:
According to World Health Organisation,
- Universal midwifery coverage would result in an 82% reduction in maternal mortality.
- Around 50% of nurses and midwives comprise nearly 50% of the world’s health workforce.
- 62% of effective practices within the scope of midwifery show the importance of optimizing the normal processes of childbirth
History of ICM:
i.The International Midwives Union (IMU), the forerunner of the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), was created in 1922 in Belgium.
ii.In 1954, the reconstituted IMU changed its name to ICM with headquarters in London, the United Kingdom.
iii.In 1999 the headquarters of ICM was moved to the Hague, the Netherlands.
There are currently 140 Midwives’ Associations, representing 119 countries across every continent.
iv.ICM is organised into six regions: Africa, the Americas, Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, South East Asia and Western Pacific.
About the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM):
President– Dr Franka Cadée
Headquarters– the Hague, the Netherlands
