Activities

A. Projects and Partnerships- Present and Previous

SOMI was a partner along with ANSWERS in the midwifery strengthening project supported by sida. This project helped to bring SOMI fledgling leaders together and develop their capacity to learn, express and advocate. The exposure we received from many interactions helped us to think of a model of midwifery for India

The partnership with UNFPA helped to organize regional workshops in Pune and Kolkata to disseminate ICM Standards (Basic and Advanced).

The partnership with IPAS brought the aspects of gender sensitivity and abortion services to our members

The partnership with UNICEF was taken up for transforming labour rooms under call to action – on site demonstration on and training to improve quality maternal and new born care in the high priority District in West Bengal through labour room reorganization.

SOMI and IAP partnership helped to strengthen skills of senior nurses in new-born resuscitation and to become national and regional level trainers.

Today we can see the ray of light for strengthening Midwifery for safe motherhood. The “Guidelines on Midwifery Services in India, 2018” has been developed and it is implemented in selected states. This is the result of 24 years journey of SOMI

Partnership for midwifery:SOMI was entered into agreement with White Ribbion Alliance to provide technical support to create an enabling environment for midwifery in India in the year 2021.

SOMI in collaboration with WRAI will ensure that NPMs are considered as a specialised cadre with nationally recognized organization. SOMI along with WRAI will ensure their career path way and creation of sufficient positions in the State by state governments to run the MLCUs effectively. SOMI will create awareness of this separate cadre for Midwifery in India with the help from GOI, INC, Ministry of Health and also from Director of Health Services, Director of Medical Education, Deputy Director of Nursing, Joint Director of Nursing and Registrar of all state governments. SOMI will ensure that all the midwifery educators and midwifery champions are given an opportunity to submit abstracts to present their papers at National and International conferences. SOMI through its regular and special programs will provide continuous support for midwives professional growth by conducting research workshops. Initially we have selected two state for advocacy in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Due to Pandemic it was not able to complete the activities.

Partnership for mothers and New born :

The Society of Midwives and Himalaya Drug Co for Healthy Mothers and Babies’ collaborated and organized programmes for improving health of mothers and babies during 2018-2019. ANMs were key participants who received inputs from specialists (Midwives, Obstetricians, paediatricians and public health nurses) to enhance their capacity for providing care to mothers and newborns. Both partners gained experience in organizing and sustaining the effort. We also learned what works best for ANMs as field health workers and what benefits women and babies. With this background SOMI wishes to partner with Himalaya Drug Company to improve the quality of health of mothers and babies through programmes organized by ANMs and guided by senior SOMI leaders. It was decided to organize symposium on “Essential New Born Care” to enhance the skill of our ANMs and Midwives.

B.Midwives lamp for Mothers.

The Midwives’ lamp for Mothers

SOMI’s campaign for Safe Motherhood

12th Oct.2010- 5th May.2011

The SOMI Lamp for Safe Motherhood was conceptualized as a traditional lamp with the SOMI LOGO standing on it. The logo symbolized the close link between the terms motherhood and midwifery. Women need midwives, and midwives are themselves women. Midwifery has grown from the tradition of women supporting each other during the most critical and joyful moments of life. The midwife-mother relationship centers on the continuous presence and care given by the midwife to the woman throughout her antenatal, childbirth, and postnatal period including early newborn care. SOMI strives to retain this sensitivity of the tradition and demonstrates it through the campaign.

The lamp passed from one hand to the other, one Chapter to the other and one city to the other. It travelled to 27 cities across 21 states and reached out to thousands of mothers, staff nurses, ANM’s, community health workers and midwives . As the lamp passed from one hand to the other, each Chapter added their own twist to the campaign by coming up with creative ways of reaching the message to the different stakeholders of safe motherhood- Government, mothers , midwives, media etc..Though each presented their own view of the campaign, they were amazingly united by the flame of the Midwives’ lamp

Midwives Walk for Mothers:

On the occasion of International Day of Midwife, 5th May, 2011

Midwives of India walk for maternal health

Midwives and their supporters around the world are walking to raise awareness to tackle global inequalities in maternal and newborn health on 5th May, the International day of the Midwife.

In Hyderabad, Society of Midwives,India(SOMI) an organisation working for strengthening midwifery in India, led midwives and their associates in a walk on the Necklace Road early this morning. Midwives from around the Country (AP, MP, Gujarat, Bihar, West Bengal, Maharashtra) walked with placards to spread the message, ‘The World needs Midwives, now more than ever’.

Around 200 people participated in the walk. The Walk had participation from basically nurse-midwives, but it included doctors, students, advocates, and activists. Apart from SOMI,the Walk had the participation of the following organizations-

Academy for Nursing studies and Women’s Empowerment Research Studies(ANSWERS)
VOICE
Govt.College of Nursing
Fernandez Hospitals
JMJ College of Nursing

One in six women who die due to pregnancy-related causes worldwide are from India. A WHO-UNICEF-UNFPA-World Bank report (2010), Trends in maternal mortality 1990-2008, says that 63,000 of the estimated 3,58,000 deaths due to complications during pregnancy and childbirth worldwide occur in India.

Evidence shows that children who lose their mothers are ten times more likely to die before their second birthday, UNFPA (2007).

The Walks are part of a global initiative by the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), a global organization of midwives, in preparation for the upcoming ICM Congress in June 2011 in Durban www.midwives2011.org. Midwives, worldwide are simultaneously engaged in the walks on this Day advocating to improve maternal and newborn health in their communities and countries.

“A strong midwifery profession with skilled and sensitive midwives has proved to be crucial for improving maternal health and reducing deaths of mothers and newborns. A key target of MDG 5 is to increase the proportion of deliveries by skilled personnel. India is grappling with acute shortage of skilled nurse-midwives while there is a deluge of institutional deliveries. The best results can be achieved when nurse midwives are trained to meet the number of deliveries in the hospitals in a safe and sensitive manner." quotes Dr.Prakasamma, Founder, SOMI and Founder-Director, Academy for Nursing Studies and Women Empowerment Research Studies(ANSWERS), an organization working on training, research, advocacy and capacity building of midwives to improve the maternal and newborn health situation in the Country.

Improving Quality of Facility Level Maternal and Newborn Care in West Bengal with focus on UNICEF supported Districts

India has made remarkable improvement in terms of the services to the pregnant women and this has been resulted into the significant decline in Maternal Mortality Ratio and Infant Mortality Rates to achieve NHP and SDG goals. In line with this, the State Government of West Bengal has taken several initiatives like strengthening infrastructure, engagement of manpower, operationalization of EmOC centers, skill building of staff nurses and medical officers by organizing several training programmes like SBA, NRP, Skill Lab, and OSCE related to MNH care under LaQshya programme, infection prevention and control etc.

Society of Midwives India (SOMI) and UNICEF as a state lead partner of Govt. of West Bengal collaborated for implementation of RMNCH+A – SSV, Capacity building, data analysis for action to strengthen quality services of Maternal and Newborn health since 2014 till date.

The proposed project will work in synchronization with these ongoing initiatives, following the same standards and guidelines, with focus on the HPDs, which need additional handholding support and training.

This proposal has been developed for a period of 12 months from the date of approval titled “Improving quality of facility level Maternal and Newborn care in West Bengal with focus on UNICEF supported Districts” .

Organizes Newborn Care Corner

Observation Beds placed

Young Leader’s Development Program

YLDP is committed to developing the next generation of midwifery leaders for SOMI who are equipped to understand and address the challenges in the profession needed to make childbirth safer. The program is designed to help the participants develop the qualities of effective leaders who can work with their state chapter and take forward the mission of their Government to bring down the maternal and newborn mortality.

The program invites nurse-midwives from all across the country, from age group (30-45yrs) working in community health/ clinical care / teaching fields. This group will be diverse, and will bring to the table, different cultural, academic and other interesting perspectives. The program offers participants an opportunity to assess their professional strengths, gain greater insight into their personal and communication style and develop competence and confidence in their ability to influence others. The program will further develop action plans that will enable them to transfer learning in their workplaces and communities.

Objectives

Realize self potential for leadership.
Develop skills in communication, representing and negotiation for better maternal and newborn services and stronger midwifery.
Enhance technical skills for professional growth.
Learn to build teams and partnerships.
Gain capacity to mobilise support, raise funds and sustain groups.

Natural Birth Campaign:

Normal Birth Campaign in India

For health of mothers and babies, for building a healthy and harmonious future

To be launched on 10th December, 2018 at IHC, New Delhi by

Society of Midwives, India in collaboration with ANSWERS and partners

Normal birth occurs naturally via the vagina in almost all mammals on earth, including humans. Nature has facilitated this process. Only about 15% of births become complicated and require assistance or interventions, and less than 10 percent actually require birth through surgery. Being human has changed these figures and placed human babies and mothers at higher risk. Births through surgery rose to 17.2 % in 2015-16 from 8.5% in 2005-06. Rates are higher the general population compared to the tribal (15.5% versus 9.4% in Gujarat). Rates in urban areas are almost double those in villages (28.3% in urban).

The common medical reasons for surgical births are large or premature babies, fetal distress, abnormal presentation, non progress of labour, etc. Over the last two decades, human reasons such as impatience, convenience, anxiety and economics have become major factors in higher number of surgical births. Midwives and doctors are aware of the increased risk of morbidity and mortality for mothers and babies when births occur through surgery. The dangers are sepsis, wound gaping, low back pain, numbness of extremities, in the mother and asphyxia and late breast feeding in the baby. Added to this is the impediment to bonding and nurturing during this vulnerable period for the mother and baby, and the stress on the family.

Purposes of the Normal birth Campaign

Our vision is to have every healthy mother and baby going through normal birth in a safe, skilled and sensitive manner and make birth both memorable and pleasurable. Midwives aim to build an unbroken chain of care from home to facility and back to home. This campaign reiterates the commitment of nurses, midwives, health workers, doctors and programme managers at all levels to healthy and normal birthing for all.

Implementation Plan

The campaign will run for five months from 10th December 2018 to 4th May 2019 and will converge in a national even on 5th May, International Day of the Midwife. SOMI and ANSWERS will work through more than 10,000 members, extensive network of midwives and activists across the Country. Likeminded professionals, associations, institutions and individuals will be invited to participate. The progress of the campaign will be done on a day to day basis.

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C. Community Programmes:

i. Women’s Day: International Women’s Day (IWD), celebrated annually on March 8, is a global day acknowledging the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. Not only does it celebrate the achievements and progress women have made, but it also highlights the ongoing struggles for equality and the need for continued advocacy and action worldwide. On this day, several events take place globally to highlight the collective efforts of everyone who cares about human rights in the ongoing struggle for gender parity. As a part of Advocacy SOMI celebrate women’s day all over the world by chapters

ii. Safe Motherhood day: It is celebrated on 11th April. Every women have a right to give birth to a child. In itself, it is a miracle. In our country, there are women who died while giving birth and also don't get nutrition, and proper care during the course of pregnancy and after that also. National Safe Motherhood Day (NSMD) is celebrated to aware people of healthcare facilities for women. SOMI always promote safe child birth. To create awareness SOMI celebrate this important day all over the world by its chapter organizing awareness and health education programmes in the community and in facilities.

iii.International Day of Midwives:Since its inception SOMI have been organized, conferences, skill workshops organized year after year and projects undertaken along with other health team members to achieve its objectives. It is a proud moment for all the midwives to celebrate International Midwives Day on 5th May every year. SOMI encourages every chapter to organize this day.

“Nurses and midwives play a vital role in providing health services. These are the people who devote their lives to caring for mothers and children; giving lifesaving immunizations and health advice; looking after older people and generally meeting everyday essential health needs. They are often, the first and only point of care in their communities. The world needs 9 million more nurses and midwives if it is to achieve universal health coverage by 2030.”

iv.Breast Feeding Week Celebration: The society perceives the need to address gender and profession related challenges that midwives encounter in their work.

We advocate for safe, skilled and sensitive care to women, their babies and their families. Our logo depicts our mission. It shows that the mother and her child are a symbiotic whole. They are guarded by the strong, protective and sensitive hands of the midwives.

One of our Objectives is influence policy decisions for safe child birth. Safe Child birth includes during conception to postnal Natal Care. With in this context SOMI celebrates Brest feeding week every year from 1st to 7th August all over the world..

Evidences shows that Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival. However, nearly 2 out of 3 infants are not exclusively breastfed for the recommended 6 months—a rate that has not improved in 2 decades.

Breast milk is the ideal food for infants. It is safe, clean and contains antibodies which help protect against many common childhood illnesses. Breast milk provides all the energy and nutrients that the infant needs for the first months of life, and it continues to provide up to half or more of a child’s nutritional needs during the second half of the first year, and up to one third during the second year of life.

Breastfed children perform better on intelligence tests, are less likely to be overweight or obese and less prone to diabetes later in life. Women who breastfeed also have a reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancers.

Inappropriate marketing of breast-milk substitutes continues to undermine efforts to improve breastfeeding rates and duration world.

D. National Conferences: Since its establishment, SOMI conducted 16 national conferences in different states of the country. The first conference was in Chennai in 2002, and the 16th was in Lucknow in 2023. The conferences have been successful in creating visibility for SOMI and building a national network among SOMI members and other professional organizations. SOMI co-hosted the IX ICM Asia Pacific Midwives conference in November 2009 at Hyderabad along with ANSWERS. This was a milestone in the history of midwifery in India as midwives, midwifery teachers and researchers from 31 countries participated. It gave a tremendous boost to the Indian delegates and showcased how midwives in India could rise to high quality professional standards. The Skill Hall was the highlight of the conference as later other countries also tried to emulate this model. State conferences have also helped in raising awareness and interest among nurse-midwives in India and helped to build partnerships with medical professionals for improving maternal and new born health. SOMI chapters conducted state conferences - Orissa, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal.

National Conferences Details

Year	Place	Theme	Hosted by	Coordinator
2002	Chennai	Indian Midwives move towards Safe Motherhood.	Omayal Achi College of Nursing	Dr. A.V. Raman
2003	Hyderabad	Role of Midwives in saving Women’s lives	Government College of Nursing	Ms. Esther Sunila
2004	Delhi	Strengthening Midwifery Towards Positive Maternal Health Outcome	Jamia Hamdard College of Nursing	Dr. Manju Chhugani
2005	Indore	Postnatal Care: the Role of Midwives	Choithram College of Nursing	Dr. Usha Ukande
2006	Pune	India needs Midwives now more than ever: Evidences from the Ground	Sadhu Vaswani College of Nursing	Lt. Col. (Retd). Mrs. Manonmani Venkat
2007	Ahmedabad	Indian Midwives reach out to Women wherever they live	Government College of Nursing, Civil Hospital	Mrs. Jyotsna Y. Pandya
2008	Kolkata	Healthy Mothers- Healthy babies: Midwives continue to care	Government College of Nursing, Medical College Hospital	Ms. Bandana Das
2010	Puducherry	From Pregnancy-Postpartum Women’s Entitlement- Midwives’ Accountability	Manakula Vinayagar Nursing College	Dr. E. Premila
2011	Patna	Midwives help women take charge of childbirth	Government ANMTC (PMCH)	Mrs. Subhadra Kumari
2012	Srinagar	Education for change. Strengthening Midwifery practice for achieving National Health Goal	Sher-i- Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS)	Mrs. Rafiqa Bashir
2013	Bhubaneshwar	Midwives- Advocating quality improvement for Maternal and Newborn Care	Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences	Prof. Amrita Lenka
2015	Mangaluru	Bringing quality to maternal and child health services: Midwives take the challenge	Yenepoya Nursing College	Dr. Asha P. Shetty
2018	Mumbai	Caring for mothers & their newborn “Midwives/Nurses role”	LT College of Nursing, SNDT	Dr. Nilima Sonwane
2019	Raipur	Indian Midwives: Voice for Normal Birth as a women’s Right	Government College of Nursing	Mrs. Sapna Thakur
2021	Thalaserry (Virtual)	New Frontiers in Midwifery Practice and Education	Sree Sudheera College of Nursing	Dr. Sindhu Devi
2023	Lucknow	Promote Natural Birthing: Bring Back Midwives	SGPGIMS College of Nursing	Dr. Geeta Parwanda
2025	Guwahati	Midwifery Practice: Game Changer for Mothers and Newborn	Regional College Of Nursing	Prof. (Dr). Geeta Das

View National Conference of SOMI

E. International Conferences: SOMI executive and members attended ICM congresses at Durban, Glasgow, Prague, Toronto and Bali. These conferences exposed Indian nurse midwives to the high levels of midwifery in certain countries and also helped to build a bond between midwifery leaders in South Asia. The South Asian Midwives‟ Alliance (SAMA) was born out of the mutually recognized need to enable midwives and improvement quality of maternal health. It provided a forum to share aspirations and experiences. The Alliance also paved the way for other agencies to take forward the vision and build regional networks.

At Prague 2014

At Toronto 2017

At Hanoi, Vietnam

Yokohama, Japan

Society of Midwives-India (SOMI), established in the year 2000, is a 10 yr old registered organization with a mission to strengthen midwifery, enable midwives and achieve safe motherhood.

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