The role of the midwife in addressing gender-based violence: a safe motherhood intervention: ICM Programme Manager Nester Moyo reports on a successful bilingual pre-conference workshop, held in Port of Spain, Trinidad, April 22, 2004.

• Auteur: Moyo, Nester

The President of ICM, Caroline Weaver welcomed all present including the guest speaker and wished everyone success. She highlighted the day was going to bring together the challenges of learning with the joy of sharing!

Minister Eulalie James from the Ministry of Gender Affairs opened the day by expressing the view that the hosting of a regional workshop of this magnitude on the issue of GBV was timely and indicated the seriousness that midwives ascribe to their contributions to women's health. Similarities in culture and social values make it possible for midwives from different parts of this region to share ideas and experiences: Mrs James urged them to learn from each other and not 're-invent the wheel'. Referring to women's right to 'accessible and adequate health care and the widest range of family planning services', she nevertheless noted that there was powerlessness among women to change social norms in the region especially in Trinidad and Tobago, gender inequalities among poorer groups and an increase in HIV infections--all contributing to the incidence of GBV. The effects of GBV include gynaecological diseases, HIV infection, unwanted pregnancies, loss of dignity, and depression. Many, women experience psychological effects, which they, find more debilitating than the physical ones. Unsafe abortions threaten life.

It has been observed, the minister said, that medical professionals are not always sensitive to the issues of GBV and are not always aware of its nature and how it manifests in the women. Yet the health care system is well placed to identify, and refer victims of GBV. Midwives therefore need to utilise this potential by using a 'gendered lens' through which to look at their clientele and take specific measures. She closed her presentation by emphasising that midwives play, an invaluable role in collaborating with other health care providers and gender practitioners to ensure the development of networks aimed at improving the provision of women's health care services. Midwives' success is success to society.

Policies and programmes

Diana Mahabir Wyatt tackled the topic of 'Policies and programmes for addressing gender based violence in the Americas'. The presentation's main points were that GBV has been the subject of an Inter American Development Bank Study on the economic effects of GBV on societies. Health effects alone include poor nutrition, exacerbation of chronic illness, substance abuse, brain trauma, organ damage, pelvic inflammatory disease, low-birth-weight infants and abortions. Recognition of the deleterious effects of GBV is important for midwives because GBV directly affects the...