A Midwife for Every Woman: The Canadian Association of Midwives' 13th Annual General Meeting, Conference and Exhibit Kicks Off in Ottawa Today

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Nov. 6, 2013) - Midwives representing every province and territory are meeting in Ottawa today as The Canadian Association of Midwives (CAM) kicks off its 13^th Annual General Meeting, Conference and Exhibit.

A Midwife for Every Woman is the theme of this year's annual conference that runs until November 8. Bringing midwives, maternity care professionals and students from across Canada to gather in Ottawa presents a special opportunity to increase political and public awareness of the vital need for recognition of the profession of midwifery.

"Access to maternal and newborn care is still a challenge for too many Canadian families," said Joanna Nemrava, President of the Canadian Association of Midwives (CAM). "Being in Ottawa for this year's conference provides a unique opportunity to meet with some of Canada's key political figures and leaders and turn their attention toward national maternal health discrepancies and the importance of midwifery services for all Canadian women and newborns", said Nemrava. "We hope that the delegates attending the conference will be inspired by the topics and issues presented this year and will get involved in sharing their vision and ideas with all of us."

In addition to exploring perspectives on important issues facing maternal and newborn care in Canada and globally, the Conference seeks to increase awareness of the need for access to midwifery care for Aboriginal women, women living in rural and remote areas of Canada, and women living in provinces and territories where midwifery services remain unregulated or unsupported.

Keynotes include:

Mary Renfrew, Professor and Director of Mother and Infant Health at the University of Dundee and Board member of UNICEF UK - Midwifery and Quality Care: the story of the Lancet Series on Midwifery"

Michèle Taïna Audette, President, Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) - Giving Life, Teaching Life

Eugene Declercq, PhD, Professor of Community Health Sciences and Assistant Dean Education at the Boston University School of Public Health - Perspectives on Mothers and Midwives: Who's Choosing a Midwife?

About Midwifery in Canada

There are just over 1100 registered midwives in Canada. Midwives are primary health care providers who work as part of the health care system in most provinces and territories in Canada. They provide care to women during pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period.

The Canadian Association of Midwives (CAM) is the national organization representing midwives and the profession of midwifery in Canada. The mission of CAM is to provide leadership and advocacy for midwifery as a regulated, publicly funded and vital part of the primary maternity care system in all provinces and territories.