Midwives from high-death regions denied visas for Lisbon summit
11 reported
According to a single-source report from The Guardian, visa rejections have prevented midwives from several African and Asian countries from attending the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) congress in Lisbon, Portugal, a key conference on reducing avoidable mother and baby deaths. The report states that last-minute visa refusals excluded eminent midwives from countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Tunisia, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Bangladesh, India and Indonesia. ICM advisor Kate Stringer said the midwives are leaders in countries bearing the highest burden of deaths, calling the situation a “life and death situation, perpetuated by colonial bias.” The report notes that globally, about 260,000 women die every year in childbirth, 1.9 million babies are stillborn, and there are 2.3 million newborn deaths, with about 70% of mothers dying in sub-Saharan Africa. Portugal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said visa assessments were conducted “rigorously, objectively and factually” in line with Schengen rules.
What’s reported
The International Confederation of Midwives congress was held in Lisbon, Portugal, this week.
Last-minute visa refusals excluded midwives from Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Tunisia, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Bangladesh, India and Indonesia.
ICM advisor Kate Stringer said the situation “defies logic” and is “a life and death situation, perpetuated by colonial bias.”
Ugandan midwife Harriet Akello, who runs a WHO-noted initiative with Mother Health International, was denied a visa despite having recently traveled to Sweden for work.
Two Bangladeshi midwifery union leaders were denied visas while a male government official attended to pledge 25,000 extra midwives.
Dr Arthur Munkana from the Democratic Republic of the Congo said four midwives from his country were denied visas.
Alison Perry, a researcher at Imperial College London, said a Ugandan midwife she collaborates with was excluded, calling it “overt discrimination.”
Portugal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated visa assessments were done “rigorously, objectively and factually” per Schengen rules.
Globally, about 260,000 women die yearly in childbirth, 1.9 million babies are stillborn, and 2.3 million newborns die; 70% of maternal deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa.
The world is a million midwives short of safe staffing levels, according to the ICM.
The ICM also covered childbirth bleeding, which affects 27 million women a year, kills 43,000, and costs countries over £7bn.
Key figures
Kate Stringer, ICM advisor
Harriet Akello, midwife, Mother Health International, Uganda
Dr Arthur Munkana, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Alison Perry, researcher, Imperial College London
Emily Maclean, midwife (mentioned as author)
Sources: The Guardian
