Message from Mervi Jokinen, President of EFNNMA
President of the European Forum of National Nursing and Midwifery Associations (EFNNMA)
I am here to send my greetings to you all at the start of the European Nursing and Midwifery Week, which EFNNMA is celebrating again this year. It starts on 5 May, the International Day of Midwives, and ends on 12 May, the International Nurses Day.
We have asked our members to send us information about the events they are organising locally and nationally, and we are delighted to hear about the many different celebrations taking place across the European region.
These celebrations are timely and necessary, given that Europe, like the rest of the world, has been facing unprecedented threats and crises, including global pandemics, political and economic unrest, and natural and man-made disasters, climate change and mass migration.
Every day, midwives and nurses face these challenges in their working environments, affecting the health system and, most importantly, our communities, patients and families, who must continue to receive safe, quality care.
It can be draining and exhausting, and we recognize how much every individual health professional does to keep our services safe. So, we need to celebrate and join together to make the required difference.
Would it be political influence? Targeting policymakers, providing support and solutions through our professional organizations, or providing assistance ourselves.
As I said earlier, at the start of the week, it is the International Day of the Midwife. This first message addresses the critical theme set by the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) in every crisis: women face life-threatening risks, pregnancy complications, and sexual violence, as well as reduced access to care. We need to remember that midwives can be, and are, the solution. It is time to, we must, include midwives in crisis response plans. Midwives are trusted, and they have the knowledge and skills to ensure that women receive the health services they need, no matter the crisis. Everyone has the right to manage their sexual and reproductive health, even in the most challenging circumstances. Their voice must be valued and included in every crisis response plan. Most importantly, midwives have the right to work without fear of violence or harm, and they have the right to access the tools and resources they need. Inclusion in crisis planning and decision-making is essential to protect midwives and ensure they can continue saving lives. I hope you will join EFNNMA in thanking the fantastic and diligent midwives across Europe who deliver safe and quality care to women and their families every day, crisis or no crisis. Enjoy your national and local celebrations, and please join us later in the week to hear more messages and news from EFNNMA.
Link Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COD5AtDT1xY
Register to the webinar of the week (May 6, 2025 – 2pm CET): bit.ly/ENMW_Webinar
Contact:
@efnnma