THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) OF THE BANGLADESH MIDWIFERY SOCIETY (BMS)
Desk Report : The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Bangladesh Midwifery Society (BMS) was held online on Saturday 19 December 2020 with the participation of 183 participants across the country. BMS is the professional association of midwives and is the voice of midwives in Bangladesh. This was the first online AGM for the midwifery society, giving BMS opportunity to gather and reflect on the activities and financial position of the organization during 2020. Key to this was the UNFPA-funded twinning project with Royal College of Midwives (RCM) UK, a project that was nominated for the Times Higher Award 2020 under the International Collaboration of the year category.
BMS currently have 2719 general members. BMS is providing continuous capacity development support through free 82 online courses and 272 courses in WCEA mobile application on midwifery services to its members. Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic BMS was providing support to midwives, i.e.: keeping record of midwives affected by coronavirus, regularly communicating and providing them support as per their need. BMS distributed cloth masks, face shields, gloves, and sanitizers to midwives of 342 UHCs. BMS also distributed masks to students of private and public institutions and midwives working in private sector. In December, BMS will distribute infra-red thermometers to midwives of 145 UHCs. During the flood of Sunamganj district, BMS with support of Michigan Midwives of USA distributed PPE items, mobile phone, birthing tool, ball and NVD instruments. BMS is implementing a Young Midwife Leadership (YML) Programme. In 2020 selected seven midwives from the general members getting continuous coaching, mentoring and leadership development support through the program.
Mst. Karima Akter, Secretary, BMS received award from the Asia Pacific Alliance on Human Resources (AAAH) for Health as a Midwife in this year. The AAAH award was established in 2010, to recognize the outstanding performances and contributions of health professionals in the SRH field. Mrs. Karima is one of the first cohort of professional midwives in Bangladesh, deployed in 2018, and a graduate of the first national YML Programme, implemented by the twinning project. During the COVID-19 pandemic Mrs. Karima has worked tirelessly to coordinate a helpline for midwives.
The Chief Guest at the program were respected Mohammod Abdul Hai, PAA, Director (Education), Directorate General of Nursing and Midwifery (DGNM) and Special guests are Rashida Akhter, Deputy Registrar, Bangladesh Nursing and Midwifery Council (BNMC), Shahanara Khatun, Deputy Director, Education, DGNM, Feroza Begum, Deputy director, admin, DGNM, Rabeya Basri, National midwifery officer, DGNM, Joy Kemp, Global Professional Advisor, RCM, Farida Begum Programme analyst midwifery, UNFPA, Dr. Selina Amin, Head of midwifery education, BRAC, Rabeya Begum, Principal, TMSS nursing college, Bogura.
BMS is grateful to the Chief guests and Special Guests for their kind presence in the program.