Yesterday LSTM’s Centre for Maternal and Newborn Health’s (CMNH) finished a successful three day International Conference, and the launch of their new, user friendly website.
CMNH hosted over 100 delegates from 16 countries at LSTM, many of whom work as in country partners or funders for the pivotal programme, Making it Happen , the results of which were announced at the start of the three days. Along with the results delegates enjoyed a mix of presentations, plenary discussions and workshops throughout the conference as well as a gala dinner at The Isla Gladstone Conservatory where they were able to mix informally and discuss themes and ideas from the different workshops.
While day one of the conference focused on the launch of the Making it Happen programme results which show improved availability and quality of care was achieved in all participating countries along with presentations from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Department for International Development (DFID), day two focussed on measuring and improving the quality of care for mothers and babies and the surveillance and review of maternal and perinatal deaths, reiterating the point that quality and timely data is central to improvements being made. Speakers focussed on challenges surrounding the monitoring of maternal deaths, and major roadblocks to improving quality of care and looked at the design of potential training packages and the use of audit methodology to address key issues.
Day three was workshop-based with a final group meeting at which awards were presented for the winning poster presentations, as voted for by the delegates themselves. The delegates were then also surveyed using the TurningPoint software for their opinions about what they felt to be the priorities for implementation and research in maternal and newborn health as well as addressing issues including the role of UK volunteers in training, and the need for development of a clearly described process for moving from data to action. The conference was concluded with Professor Monirul Islam, Representative of the WHO in Namibia, calling for all those present to continue the movement forchange and to be the voice of those people who have no voice at all.
Corresponding with the end of the conference the Head of CMNH, Professor Nynke van den Broek, was able to announce the completion of a new website for CMNH. Designed by developers Manta Ray Media and fully integrated with the LSTM website, its new format is based around thematic areas of implementation research and an overview of current programmes offered by CMNH, as well as featuring latest news items and profiles of both the team based in Liverpool and those working in country.
Visit the website here.