- Email: [email protected]
Japan. A Kaleidoscope of memories
Nothing is impossible (except putting toothpaste back in a tube) but some things are more difficult than others. "Just a paragraph. Write just a paragraph", that's what the Editor had asked. My last morning in Japan. I watched the world rushing buy. How could one write jut one paragraph? What would one say? Where would one start? Memories. Sensations. A land of contrasts. Rain and sunshine. Temples and shrines. High tech and low. Trees tendered with loving care. Autumn leaves amidst the green. Manicured gardens. Rice paddies. Mount Fuji in the twilight. Overwhelming politeness and patience. Sushi. Squeaky clean subways. No graffiti. NO FLIES. Buildings from horizon to horizon. Bullet trains that travel at 210 kph. Triple decked roads eight lanes wide. Traffic that stands still. Japanese lops. The price of fruit. Apples $6. Melons $75. People everywhere. Peace and tranquillity at the end of a day. Six thousand chattering midwives from every corner of the earth bringing their gifts - - love, skill and knowledge. Anticipating. Watching. Dancing. Meeting old friends and greeting new. Most happy. Some sad. Papers and posters - - too many to count. Listening. Learning. Sharing. Seeking. Applauding our colleagues. Reading. Posting abstracts and proceedings that weigh a ton. Evaluating a new teaching aid. Mind in a whirl. Tired but no time to sleep. Congratulating the new Director of ICM - - our own Margaret Peters. Rejoicing. Singing Auld lang sine. Packing. Hying home. Planning for Vancouver in May 1993. Was it worth it? It certainly was. Jill Thompson
FROM: AUSTRALIAN DELEGATE F R O M ACMI TO T H E I C M C O U N C I L M E E T I N G S IN KOBE DATE: 8TH NOVEMBER 1990 It is my privilege to report to you on the 22nd International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) Council Meetings and Congress proceedings which were held in Kobe, Japan from 2nd October to 12th October 1990. The Council which is the decision making body of the ICM consists of two delegates per member association of the Confederation of which there are 50 from 43 countries. As well AUSTRALIAN COLLEGE OF MIDWIVES JOURNAL
there are two delegates from each of three regions; the Americas, Africa and the Western Pacific. The region of Europe has five delegates. The Australian delegates on the Council included myself and Lorraine Wilson (Victoria), the Vice-President of the Australian College of Midwives Incorporated (ACMI). One of the Western Pacific delegates is also Australian, Cynthia Turnbull (Tasmania), President of ACMI. The Executive Secretary of ICM was very ill and unable to attend the Council and Congress. However, the Board of Management and part time assistant to the Executive Secretary capably guided the Council through its deliberations. Some of the issues discussed included: International Midwives Day The first International Midwives Day will be celebrated on 5th May 1991. The theme put forward was "Toward safe birth for all by the Year 2000." Investigations are under way to have the date included in the United Nations List. Each member association is asked to consider a project promoting this theme and notify ICM about it.
Voting Rights This issue arose from the 1987 meeting in The Hague and relates to whether t h e n u m b e r of delegates to ICM Council should relate to the number of midwives in an Association or be limited to 2 delegates per Association irregardless of the number of member midwives. It was decided that member associations will have the same number of votes regardless of the number of midwives or number of associations in a country. Member Associations New associations were welcomed to ICM. Among these was the Japan Academy of Midwives. This group has many members and felt it would like to be recognised separately from the nursing group. The Association Nacional de Matronas (Spain) were welcomed back after they had been removed from ICM for failing to maintain contact with ICM and pay capitation fees. Their fees are now paid. Dialogue is under way between the West and East German midwives to form an Association in East Germany which could become a member of ICM.
Constitution and by-laws: A fair bit of discussion took place regarding the Constitution and by-laws. Some associations felt that too much time had been spent on this agenda item. D E C E M B E R 1990 _ _ 5
Following an amendment to the by-laws, the Western Pacific Region of which Australia is a member, is now officially to be known as the Asia Pacific Region, as it was felt that this term more correctly defines the area included.
Pre Congress Workshop
Prior to the Council meetings there was a joing ICM/WHO/UNICEF workshop which examined the issue of midwifery education. The impetus for addressing midwifery education arose from the action statement on Safe Motherhood which came out of the ICM/WHO/UNICEF pre Board of Management/Regional congress workshop in The Hague in 1987. Representatives: Thirteen recommendations came from the The positions of Director, Deputy Director, joint workshop in Kobe. One was directed at Treasurer and REgional Representatives were achieving safe m o t h e r h o o d . . , through midwifevoted on: ry education. One of the strong messages emanatMargaret Peters (Victoria) was elected by the ing from this workshop and also the Council was Council as Director of the Board of Management. that midwifery is a profession in its own right and Margaret brings vast knowledge and experience should be recognised as such. One way to achieve to this role and will guide ICM along that path this is by recognising that midwifery education which is necessary to follow in order to achieve programs should be separate from nurse educaits goals. tion programs. The members of the Council were particularly There are approximately 60-70 delegates in concerned that the Director should have a global Council, however, not all potential delegates perspective 'n the needs of women and children were able to attend due to political and/or finanso that the aims of ICM could be reached. As cial restrictions in their country. One Vietnamese Margaret is the Australian President of UNICEF, midwife sold her wedding ring to pay for her the Council of ICM accepted that Margaret has a accommodation and food whilst in Japan and wide perspective about the problems encounbecause of red tape was unable to leave her tered in maternal and child health. country early enough to attend all of the pre-congress workshop. The group dynamics and politics of the CounPosition Statements: cil meetings was interesting and one had to be on The ICM Council re-affirmed the Definition one's toes all the time. The Australian representaof a Midwife which it originally developed and tives for both the Australian College of Midwives which was subsequently adopted by the World be and the Western Pacific Region were congratulatHealth Organisation. ed by the other Council members for their preAs well, eight Position Statements were develparedness and their positive contribution to the oped and accepted by Council. They addressed Council meetings. Many delegates were surprised issues such as accountability, continuing profesto hear that the ACMI Executive had discussed sional education, research, planned parenthood, the agenda items in Australia before coming to appropriate legislation for midwives, childbirth Council and instructed the delegates on now to practices, trade displays and appropriate educavote. In fact the Australian delegation suggested tion for midwives. to the Council that a working party be convened to 'tidy up' the draft position statements for final presentation to Council. The Congress was excellent and its was most Regional Reports pleasant to rekindle friendships begun in The The reports from the Regions of the ICM Hague in 1987. Attendance reached about 6000 record much activity m from conferences devotdelegates. Most came from Japan as one might ed to the Safe Motherhood initiative such as that expect. One of the most stirring parts of the conducted by the Western Pacific, to efforts by Congress is the Opening Ceremony when the roll various member associations to promulgate the is called and the flags of the member associations' message of ICM and encourage midwives to join countries are paraded past the delegates. The ICM. delegates dress in their national costume and add Officially, the Council meetings were schedso much colour to the ceremony. It is truly an uled for 21/2 days, but there were also some unemotional time. So many people with a common scheduled meetings both for the Western Pacific aim. Region and another one evening during the ConThe Australian contingent numbered approxigress to finalise some issues which had been mately 80 persons. It was very exciting t o hear given to Committees to work on as they were too the Australian College of Midwives called out, extensive for in depth Council discussion. see the flag go by and the delegates stand and Once again, the Western Pacific Region diswave their individual flags to the applause of played a solidarity envied by other Regions. 6000 people.
6
__
AUSTRALIANCOLLEGEOF MIDWIVESJOURNALDECEMBER1990
The Japanes midwives and nurses were excellent hosts and nothing was a trouble for them. There was translation for English, French and Spanish, although many of the Japanese mid: wives gave their papers in English. The Japanese were very excited to have the second cousin to the Emperor open the Congress on Sunday evening. She is a very elegant poised lady who read her address in beautiful English. Many many papers were presented and it was impossible to attend them all. The papers on Monday were plenary papers as were Tuesday and Wednesday morning papers, however, on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, there were 8 concurrent sessions with four papers presented in each. As well as 21 poster sessions. Altogether there were 9 Australian presentations which were for the most part well received. The papers were very diverse, many of them were the result of research which the Japanese midwives seem to conduct in large volume. The theme o f the Congress which was: A Midwife's Gift - - Love, Skill and Knowledge - - was addressed in nearly every paper. The President of ICM gave a lovely paper on this theme. Some speakers wrote of the difficulties of providing adequate midwifery care to women in areas where the people are illiterate and midwifery care is provided by traditional birth attendants if the women are lucky. Other speakers addressed the use of technology in midwifery practice. The spectrum of care for childbearing women around the world ranges from less than adequate to highly technological with much intervention.
The message coming from the Congress is that childbirth is women's work and that women need to be educated, listened to and allowed to participate in the decision making process regarding childbearing. Further, that midwives reqmre the education necessary to function to their maximum ability in order to provide the care that mothers, babies and their families have a right to. The social arrangements for the delegates and accompanying persons were pleasant and provided an opportunity to catch a glimpse of Japanese life, both traditional and modern. On the last night of the Congress the delegates were feted with a Japan Night Party. There was traditional Japanese food to eat and native dancers to entertain us. The Japanese women looked so elegant in their kimonos. It was exciting to be part of such a large group of people who have as their common aim the improvement of maternal and child health so that maternal mortality can be reduced by 50% by the year 2000. Thank you for the opportunity of attending this Congress and the Council meetings. I believe that my attendance was benefitted Australian midwives by taking their views to the international forum and bringing back to Australia the ideas of midwives from other countries. Judith D'Elmaine (Mrs) Secretary ~ A C M I Australian Delegate to I C M Council, Kobe, October 1990.
CAPERS We stock a wide range of books, leaflets, teaching aids and videotapes relevant to midwifery, child health, lactation consultancy, and childbirth educator training programmes ... including: Midwives and Medical Men Jean Donnison $29.95 Labor Pains: Modern Midwives and Home Birth Sullivan & Weitz $49.00 Midwives in History and Society Towler & Bramall $49.95 Midwives, Research & Childbirth Vols. 1 & 2 $34.95 Guide to Effective Care in Pregnancy and Childbirth Enkin, Keirse & Chalmers $32.00 Breastfeeding titles include: Bestfeeding: Getting Breastfeeding Right for You Counselling the Nursing Mother The Physiological Basis of Infant Feeding Successful Breastfeeding: A Practical Guide for Mothers and Others Supporting Breastfeeding Mothers Phone or write for a catalogue. Telephone orders can be charged against a credit card or Institution Purchase Order. Postage is extra, r._ 1 ~ m -~,:_~ ,~ ~ -, - I Fel. 0 7 - 2 6 6 957"
AUSTRALIAN COLLEGE OF MIDWIVES JOURNAL DECEMBER 1990
Renfrevr Fisher & Arms Lauwers & Woessner
$21.95 $82.00
WHO
$19.95
Royal College of Midwives
$1o.oo
CAPERS Childbirth And Parenting Education Resources & Services 177 Buckland Road (PO Box) 567) Nundah QLD 4012 Fax. 07-260 5009 Open 9am - 4.30prn
:7
FROM: AUSTRALIAN DELEGATE F R O M ACMI TO T H E I C M C O U N C I L M E E T I N G S IN KOBE DATE: 8TH NOVEMBER 1990 It is my privilege to report to you on the 22nd International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) Council Meetings and Congress proceedings which were held in Kobe, Japan from 2nd October to 12th October 1990. The Council which is the decision making body of the ICM consists of two delegates per member association of the Confederation of which there are 50 from 43 countries. As well AUSTRALIAN COLLEGE OF MIDWIVES JOURNAL
there are two delegates from each of three regions; the Americas, Africa and the Western Pacific. The region of Europe has five delegates. The Australian delegates on the Council included myself and Lorraine Wilson (Victoria), the Vice-President of the Australian College of Midwives Incorporated (ACMI). One of the Western Pacific delegates is also Australian, Cynthia Turnbull (Tasmania), President of ACMI. The Executive Secretary of ICM was very ill and unable to attend the Council and Congress. However, the Board of Management and part time assistant to the Executive Secretary capably guided the Council through its deliberations. Some of the issues discussed included: International Midwives Day The first International Midwives Day will be celebrated on 5th May 1991. The theme put forward was "Toward safe birth for all by the Year 2000." Investigations are under way to have the date included in the United Nations List. Each member association is asked to consider a project promoting this theme and notify ICM about it.
Voting Rights This issue arose from the 1987 meeting in The Hague and relates to whether t h e n u m b e r of delegates to ICM Council should relate to the number of midwives in an Association or be limited to 2 delegates per Association irregardless of the number of member midwives. It was decided that member associations will have the same number of votes regardless of the number of midwives or number of associations in a country. Member Associations New associations were welcomed to ICM. Among these was the Japan Academy of Midwives. This group has many members and felt it would like to be recognised separately from the nursing group. The Association Nacional de Matronas (Spain) were welcomed back after they had been removed from ICM for failing to maintain contact with ICM and pay capitation fees. Their fees are now paid. Dialogue is under way between the West and East German midwives to form an Association in East Germany which could become a member of ICM.
Constitution and by-laws: A fair bit of discussion took place regarding the Constitution and by-laws. Some associations felt that too much time had been spent on this agenda item. D E C E M B E R 1990 _ _ 5
Following an amendment to the by-laws, the Western Pacific Region of which Australia is a member, is now officially to be known as the Asia Pacific Region, as it was felt that this term more correctly defines the area included.
Pre Congress Workshop
Prior to the Council meetings there was a joing ICM/WHO/UNICEF workshop which examined the issue of midwifery education. The impetus for addressing midwifery education arose from the action statement on Safe Motherhood which came out of the ICM/WHO/UNICEF pre Board of Management/Regional congress workshop in The Hague in 1987. Representatives: Thirteen recommendations came from the The positions of Director, Deputy Director, joint workshop in Kobe. One was directed at Treasurer and REgional Representatives were achieving safe m o t h e r h o o d . . , through midwifevoted on: ry education. One of the strong messages emanatMargaret Peters (Victoria) was elected by the ing from this workshop and also the Council was Council as Director of the Board of Management. that midwifery is a profession in its own right and Margaret brings vast knowledge and experience should be recognised as such. One way to achieve to this role and will guide ICM along that path this is by recognising that midwifery education which is necessary to follow in order to achieve programs should be separate from nurse educaits goals. tion programs. The members of the Council were particularly There are approximately 60-70 delegates in concerned that the Director should have a global Council, however, not all potential delegates perspective 'n the needs of women and children were able to attend due to political and/or finanso that the aims of ICM could be reached. As cial restrictions in their country. One Vietnamese Margaret is the Australian President of UNICEF, midwife sold her wedding ring to pay for her the Council of ICM accepted that Margaret has a accommodation and food whilst in Japan and wide perspective about the problems encounbecause of red tape was unable to leave her tered in maternal and child health. country early enough to attend all of the pre-congress workshop. The group dynamics and politics of the CounPosition Statements: cil meetings was interesting and one had to be on The ICM Council re-affirmed the Definition one's toes all the time. The Australian representaof a Midwife which it originally developed and tives for both the Australian College of Midwives which was subsequently adopted by the World be and the Western Pacific Region were congratulatHealth Organisation. ed by the other Council members for their preAs well, eight Position Statements were develparedness and their positive contribution to the oped and accepted by Council. They addressed Council meetings. Many delegates were surprised issues such as accountability, continuing profesto hear that the ACMI Executive had discussed sional education, research, planned parenthood, the agenda items in Australia before coming to appropriate legislation for midwives, childbirth Council and instructed the delegates on now to practices, trade displays and appropriate educavote. In fact the Australian delegation suggested tion for midwives. to the Council that a working party be convened to 'tidy up' the draft position statements for final presentation to Council. The Congress was excellent and its was most Regional Reports pleasant to rekindle friendships begun in The The reports from the Regions of the ICM Hague in 1987. Attendance reached about 6000 record much activity m from conferences devotdelegates. Most came from Japan as one might ed to the Safe Motherhood initiative such as that expect. One of the most stirring parts of the conducted by the Western Pacific, to efforts by Congress is the Opening Ceremony when the roll various member associations to promulgate the is called and the flags of the member associations' message of ICM and encourage midwives to join countries are paraded past the delegates. The ICM. delegates dress in their national costume and add Officially, the Council meetings were schedso much colour to the ceremony. It is truly an uled for 21/2 days, but there were also some unemotional time. So many people with a common scheduled meetings both for the Western Pacific aim. Region and another one evening during the ConThe Australian contingent numbered approxigress to finalise some issues which had been mately 80 persons. It was very exciting t o hear given to Committees to work on as they were too the Australian College of Midwives called out, extensive for in depth Council discussion. see the flag go by and the delegates stand and Once again, the Western Pacific Region diswave their individual flags to the applause of played a solidarity envied by other Regions. 6000 people.
6
__
AUSTRALIANCOLLEGEOF MIDWIVESJOURNALDECEMBER1990
The Japanes midwives and nurses were excellent hosts and nothing was a trouble for them. There was translation for English, French and Spanish, although many of the Japanese mid: wives gave their papers in English. The Japanese were very excited to have the second cousin to the Emperor open the Congress on Sunday evening. She is a very elegant poised lady who read her address in beautiful English. Many many papers were presented and it was impossible to attend them all. The papers on Monday were plenary papers as were Tuesday and Wednesday morning papers, however, on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, there were 8 concurrent sessions with four papers presented in each. As well as 21 poster sessions. Altogether there were 9 Australian presentations which were for the most part well received. The papers were very diverse, many of them were the result of research which the Japanese midwives seem to conduct in large volume. The theme o f the Congress which was: A Midwife's Gift - - Love, Skill and Knowledge - - was addressed in nearly every paper. The President of ICM gave a lovely paper on this theme. Some speakers wrote of the difficulties of providing adequate midwifery care to women in areas where the people are illiterate and midwifery care is provided by traditional birth attendants if the women are lucky. Other speakers addressed the use of technology in midwifery practice. The spectrum of care for childbearing women around the world ranges from less than adequate to highly technological with much intervention.
The message coming from the Congress is that childbirth is women's work and that women need to be educated, listened to and allowed to participate in the decision making process regarding childbearing. Further, that midwives reqmre the education necessary to function to their maximum ability in order to provide the care that mothers, babies and their families have a right to. The social arrangements for the delegates and accompanying persons were pleasant and provided an opportunity to catch a glimpse of Japanese life, both traditional and modern. On the last night of the Congress the delegates were feted with a Japan Night Party. There was traditional Japanese food to eat and native dancers to entertain us. The Japanese women looked so elegant in their kimonos. It was exciting to be part of such a large group of people who have as their common aim the improvement of maternal and child health so that maternal mortality can be reduced by 50% by the year 2000. Thank you for the opportunity of attending this Congress and the Council meetings. I believe that my attendance was benefitted Australian midwives by taking their views to the international forum and bringing back to Australia the ideas of midwives from other countries. Judith D'Elmaine (Mrs) Secretary ~ A C M I Australian Delegate to I C M Council, Kobe, October 1990.
CAPERS We stock a wide range of books, leaflets, teaching aids and videotapes relevant to midwifery, child health, lactation consultancy, and childbirth educator training programmes ... including: Midwives and Medical Men Jean Donnison $29.95 Labor Pains: Modern Midwives and Home Birth Sullivan & Weitz $49.00 Midwives in History and Society Towler & Bramall $49.95 Midwives, Research & Childbirth Vols. 1 & 2 $34.95 Guide to Effective Care in Pregnancy and Childbirth Enkin, Keirse & Chalmers $32.00 Breastfeeding titles include: Bestfeeding: Getting Breastfeeding Right for You Counselling the Nursing Mother The Physiological Basis of Infant Feeding Successful Breastfeeding: A Practical Guide for Mothers and Others Supporting Breastfeeding Mothers Phone or write for a catalogue. Telephone orders can be charged against a credit card or Institution Purchase Order. Postage is extra, r._ 1 ~ m -~,:_~ ,~ ~ -, - I Fel. 0 7 - 2 6 6 957"
AUSTRALIAN COLLEGE OF MIDWIVES JOURNAL DECEMBER 1990
Renfrevr Fisher & Arms Lauwers & Woessner
$21.95 $82.00
WHO
$19.95
Royal College of Midwives
$1o.oo
CAPERS Childbirth And Parenting Education Resources & Services 177 Buckland Road (PO Box) 567) Nundah QLD 4012 Fax. 07-260 5009 Open 9am - 4.30prn
:7