This year, WaterAid will be participate in the International Congress of Midwives (ICM) and will host a pleanary panel session:

“Clean Water: The missing ingredient. Local, national and global perspectives on making water, sanitation and hygiene available at birth.”

Participants will discuss the question: How can midwives be expected to delivery quality care without clean water? 

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates:

  • 38% of healthcare facilities in low and middle income countries lack access to a basic water source
  • 19% do not have adequate sanitation
  • 35% do not have soap for handwashing.

Last year ICM and WaterAid, along with the Commonwealth Nurses and Midwives Federation and the Healthcare Information For All network, launched a new Healthy Start campaign for health professionals calling for quality healthcare for all by 2030. Achieving the global goal of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) for everyone everywhere will be fundamental to this aim. But far too many midwives in low- and middle-income countries lack the most basic means to keep patients safe.

Midwive in Liberia

“Access to water is regular at the clinic but I cannot confirm whether it is safe for drinking,” says Anita, a midwife in Liberia. Photo credit: WaterAid/Carielle Doe

If you are a midwife join WaterAid at the ICM Congress and participate in discussions to help transform healthcare services for mothers, newborn babies and midwives around the world.

About the ICM Congress 2017

The 31st International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) Triennial Congress takes places in Toronto, Canada. The congress represents and works to strengthen professional associations of midwives throughout the world.

There are expected to be around 4,000 participants from 130 national Midwives Associations, representing 114 countries across every continent. Find out more at www.midwives2017.org