EUROPEAN MIDWIVES ASSOCIATION GENERAL MEETING 2015 PRESS RELEASE
Bucharest, ROMANIA, 25th – 26th of September, 2015
The Romanian Independent Midwives Association hosted the European Midwives Association General Meeting in Bucharest, on September 25th and 26th, 2015.
More than 50 midwiferyleaders from 24 European countries,representing over 100 000 midwives, were reunited in Bucharest and this was the first time the Romanian capital has hostedthe midwifery meeting with this level of importance.
Due to the lack of recognition, a legislative framework and poor integration of midwives in the Romanian health system, EMA members chose Bucharest for their 2015 General Meeting to offer their support and advocacy.
In this context, theRomanian Independent Midwives Association, together with EMA, hosted asatellite event, 'The Midwife and Her Role in the Health of Childbearing Women'on September 24th, with the purpose of drawing the attention of the Romanian authorities to the lack of the implementation of the professional midwifery role in Romania. This is a very grave situation as Romania has the highest rate of infant mortality within the EU and the second highest rate of maternal mortality, mostly due to the poor development and provision of maternity care within disadvantaged/ rural communities in the primary care setting.
More than 90% of the participants to the EMA GM chose to arrive early for this satellite event, a fact for which the Romanian Independent Midwives Association has expressed their deepest gratitude. The meeting has also been attended by over 30 Romanian midwives, officials from governmental and non-governamental organisations involved in maternal and infant health (Dr. Dorel Sandesc, Health Ministry Secretary of State, Prof. Dr. Petru Armean, Dean of the Bucharest Faculty for Nursing and midwifery, Gabriela Alexandrescu, Executive President of Save The Children Romania), several diplomatic missions, and the media.
Prof Dr Dorel Sandesc, Health Ministry State Secretary, took the commitment that, after the EMA General Meeting, experts (including midwives) should gather around the table to implement the right solutions for the health of mothers and children in Romania.
In addition to the general order of business, the 2015 EMA General Meeting addressed important issues such as female genital mutilation and patient safety, benefiting from presentations from both EMA members and EU level policy speakers.
One of the important issues raised by the members was the dramatic refugee crisis Europe is facing. EMA issued a very strong position statement declaring that good midwifery care for all refugee women and their children is not negotiable and that they,European midwives,will do whatever is needed to achieve this goal.
Melania Tudose, president of the The Romanian Independent Midwives Association, thankedall the participants attending the satelite event 'The Midwife and Her Role in the Health of Childbearing Women' stating: "Your show of support will strenghten our efforts and will bring midwifery the necessary governmental attention and focus for real implementation”.
Mervi Jokinen, President of the European Midwives Association, said: "Midwifery is a vital solution to the challenges of providing high quality maternal and newborn care for all women and newborn infants, in all countries. The right investment in the midwifery workforce with supportive legislative framework will have positive impact on the health of the whole nation (Lancet Report)".
Mervi Jokinen, President of the European Midwives Association
Melania Tudose, President of the Independent Midwives Association