Midwives’ Associations leading efforts across Europe to address unmet needs of women and their families (MEDIA RELEASE)
Photo: The Independent Midwives Association of Romania has partnered with a group of approximately 50 mothers to secure housing for Ukrainian women and families entering Romania. Through this initiative, they have rented apartments for pregnant women, women with small children and children with special needs and are providing complete antenatal care, antenatal classes, postnatal consultation for mothers and babies, access to abortion, legal support, translation services, integration service, access to jobs and psychological support.
New surveying from the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) reveals how midwives’ associations (MAs) throughout Europe are leading efforts to provide vital health services and other forms of support to Ukrainian refugees, specifically women and children. In May of this year, ICM reached out to select member associations to understand their contributions to the Ukrainian war’s relief efforts. Responses from MAs in seven European countries demonstrate the essential yet undervalued role of grassroots women’s groups – such as midwives’ associations – in assessing the needs of women and children during humanitarian emergencies and spearheading responses to address those needs.