The Dates:

• 15^th and 16th July 2013:- The CONAMA task force meeting
• 17^th July 2013:-               The Opening ceremony and CONAMA official launching Ceremony
• 17^th to 19^th July 2013:-    The 3^rd ICM Africa Conference

THE THEME

“Midwives impacting on Maternal and Child Health in Africa: Evidence and Opportunities for improvement”

THE SUBTHEMES:

1. Maintaining standards in midwifery education and service for quality MNCH
2. Midwives and life-saving interventions for MNCH
3. Health Policy and Systems Strengthening for midwifery improvements in saving mothers and newborns
4. Evidence in action: Midwives impacting MNCH through best practices

THE BACKGROUND:

The first ICM Africa Regional Conference was held in Ghana in 2007. Part of recommendation from this conference was the need to institute a series of Regional Conferences across Africa that would allow Midwives to share experiences and best practices in order to increase advocacy and influence policy on Maternal and Infant health. Subsequently, Uganda Private Midwives Association was selected to host the 2^nd ICM Africa Regional Conference in May 2010. The conference was a success with about 300 participants from 11 countries across Africa in attendance. 

The Kenya Midwives chapter was nominated to host the third ICM-Africa Conference in 2013, and was also nominated chair of the Planning Taskforce.

At both the Ghana and Uganda conferences, midwives expressed growing concerns about the statistics from their countries on MDGs 4 & 5 and the seeming lack of improvement in African countries.  It was therefore unanimously deliberated that country Midwives Associations should pull their efforts together to establish an umbrella Regional body representing all Midwives Associations at continental level. The new body would advocate and collaborate with other continental bodies and partners to improve maternal and newborn health in the region.  A taskforce was formed and successfully spearheaded the establishment of the regional body, CONAMA.

STRATEGY

Sessions will be held through plenary interactions, sponsored workshops, symposia and scientific sessions.  National and international organizations working in the area of MNCH improvements are invited to host/sponsor sessions and use the opportunity to educate, train or update delegates on topical issues such as maternal and newborn interventions to save lives, family planning, comprehensive abortion care, immunization and nutrition care. Policy makers, programmers and researchers are also invited to share experiences, evidence and best practices.

OVERALL EXPECTED OUTPUT OF THE CONFERENCE AND CONAMA INAUGURATION

• African midwives updated and trained in key interventions for saving mothers and newborns
• Policy issues in midwifery improvements discussed
• Evidence on midwives-led initiatives shared
• Strategic directions for sustainable quality midwifery care developed
• CONAMA launched and actions for implementation approved