Issued by the National Department of Health
09 August 2005
The National Department of Health wishes to congratulate the Society of Midwives of South Africa - the biggest professional association for midwives - for winning the bid to host the 29th triennial congress of the International Confederation Midwives (ICM). The winning country was recently announced at the ICM council meeting in Brisbane, Australia.
This bid was won with the active support of the Department of Health as recognition for the crucial role of nurses in advancing quality healthcare service in the country. It also comes at a time when all stakeholders will be consulting on the recently released Human Resource Framework, which lays the basis for the Development of a Human Resource for Health Plan (HRH).
The ICM represents more than 85 member associations in 72 countries. During the bid, South Africa competed and won against countries with equally impressive bids including Argentina and Canada. This means that Durban would play host to the next ICM congress in 2011, where approximately 1700 representatives from around the world would be meeting to debate views on global midwifery and maternal & neonatal health issues.
The Department of Health will continue to lend its support and work closely with the Society of Midwives of South Africa in the build-up to the conference - not only for its success - but also to ensure a further strengthening of the midwifery profession and advancing the Millennium Development Goals.
The Society has also received international support and congratulations from the following: Dr Monir Islam of WHO Safe Motherhood Initiatives, Deborah Armbruster of the Prevention of Post- Partum Haemorrhage Initiative as well as from Frances Ganges representing Saving Newborns Initiative.
For further information please visit the Society of Midwives of South Africa website on www.midwives@rca.co.za
Enquiries: Solly Mabotha: 083 678 9860