IMBCO Regional Representatives
EUROPE
Lucie Ryntova, MA, Czech Republic
Mother of two daughters, Lucie is a birth advocate and Co-Founder and Project Coordinator of Aperio (Healthy Parenting Association), an NGO founded in 2001 in the Czech Republic to promote normal birth and informed choice in maternity care and equal opportunities for mothers and fathers in the family and society.
Eliska Kodysova, MA, Czech Republic
Mother of three, is a psychologist and childbirth educator, an advisor for choices in maternity services, and an expert in psychological counseling for parents and expectant parents.
AFRICA
Mandisa Singata, MBA, RM, RN, South Africa
Senior research midwife, Effective Care Research Unit, University of Witwatersrand, University of Fort Hare, Department of Health. Mandisa worked with the Department of Health on the "Saving Mothers, Saving Babies" project running the Better Births Initiative in the Eastern Cape Province. She is currently completing her PhD in Nursing at the University of Cape Town, South Africa.
ASIA-PACIFICA
Rachael Austin, RN, RM, C&FHN, IBCLC Adv. CBE, Australia
Author of "Feeding Baby: A Definitive Guide to the Science and Wisdom of Infant Feeding Choices", Rachael is a registered nurse, midwife, child and family health nurse, IBCLC, and childbirth educator. She has been working in private midwifery practice since 2003 attending women who birth at home. Rachael and her husband have 3 young children and live on a property in rural Queensland. Rachael is committed to providing maternity care that is safe and sustainable whilst preserving the dignity and rights of women, so that future generations do not suffer unnecessarily because of the over medicalisation of childbirth.
THE AMERICAS
Flavia Previtali, Uruguay
Doula, childbirth educator, and Executive Director of the Instituto Perinatal del Uruguay (Perinatal Institute of Uruguay).
Lucie Ryntova, MA, Czech Republic
Mother of two daughters, Lucie is a birth advocate and Co-Founder and Project Coordinator of Aperio (Healthy Parenting Association), an NGO founded in 2001 in the Czech Republic to promote normal birth and informed choice in maternity care and equal opportunities for mothers and fathers in the family and society.
Eliska Kodysova, MA, Czech Republic
Mother of three, is a psychologist and childbirth educator, an advisor for choices in maternity services, and an expert in psychological counseling for parents and expectant parents.
AFRICA
Mandisa Singata, MBA, RM, RN, South Africa
Senior research midwife, Effective Care Research Unit, University of Witwatersrand, University of Fort Hare, Department of Health. Mandisa worked with the Department of Health on the "Saving Mothers, Saving Babies" project running the Better Births Initiative in the Eastern Cape Province. She is currently completing her PhD in Nursing at the University of Cape Town, South Africa.
ASIA-PACIFICA
Rachael Austin, RN, RM, C&FHN, IBCLC Adv. CBE, Australia
Author of "Feeding Baby: A Definitive Guide to the Science and Wisdom of Infant Feeding Choices", Rachael is a registered nurse, midwife, child and family health nurse, IBCLC, and childbirth educator. She has been working in private midwifery practice since 2003 attending women who birth at home. Rachael and her husband have 3 young children and live on a property in rural Queensland. Rachael is committed to providing maternity care that is safe and sustainable whilst preserving the dignity and rights of women, so that future generations do not suffer unnecessarily because of the over medicalisation of childbirth.
THE AMERICAS
Flavia Previtali, Uruguay
Doula, childbirth educator, and Executive Director of the Instituto Perinatal del Uruguay (Perinatal Institute of Uruguay).
Argentina
Dr Mara Mohedano, MD is an obstetrician and mother of 5 sons. She has obtained a postgraduate Master's in the Creation of Health Care Systems, as well as taking postgraduate courses in Health Care Politics and Human Rights, and the Politics of Health and Gender. Mara gives talks on these themes in various counrties. From 2000, her official position has been Director of Perinatology and Maternity Care at Hospital Avellaneda in Tucuman. She has worked hard to make this hospital both mother- and baby-friendly. The hospital received their Baby-friendly designation a few years ago, and they are very interested in continuing to work to meet the IMBCO standards of Mother- an Baby-friendly care. Mara is also taking an intensive course in English!
Bangladesh
A.M.M.Samsad is the founding CEO of Movement for Peace and Progress, working for the humanitarian causes of maternal and newborn care in Bangladesh. He is the BFHI Committee member of Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation and one of the Master trainers of IYCF in Bangladesh. He is the working group member of HIV & Breastfeeding for the Asia Pacific. Also he is involved with IBFAN Asia Pacific. Samsad is actively engaged in One Asia Breastfeeding Group ([email protected]) activities and is one of the national coordinators of the AIDS International Candlelight Memorial.
Brazil
Ricardo Jones, MD is physician in obstetrics, gynecology, and homeopathy, an author, and an international spokesperson for the humanization of childbirth. He is a member and medical advisor of Humpar – Associação Portuguesa pela Humanização do Parto (Portuguese Association for Humanization of Childbirth), the medical advisor of ANDO – Associação Nacional de Doulas (National Association of Doulas), professor in the doula courses and perinatal education courses from ANDO (National Association of Doulas) in Brasil and Portugal. Ricardo is also featured as a birth expert in the documentary Orgasmic Birth.
Cameroon
Dr Asomba A.T. is a clinician and pharmacist, a father of three, and CEO of the Christian Community Heath Care Foundation (COHECF), an organization founded in 2000 in Cameroon to promote maternal health and improve youth RH. He has been practicing for the past ten years as the medical consultant for COHECF and is a trainer on the clinical care for sexual assault survivors. He is a member of the White Ribbon Alliance and thus assists in the advocacy for safe motherhood by encouraging better maternity care and safe delivery. He is a member of the International Hospital Federation and the International Pharmaceutical Federation. He is actively involved in fostering good governance in the public sector in Cameroon through the International Governance Institute, Cameroon Chapter.
Canada
Susan Martensen lives in Ottawa and is a DONA International Postpartum Doula Program mentor and trainer, a DONA birth doula trainer, and DONA’s Immediate Past President. She is a founder of LSAR/Doula CARE in Canada, a published author, and a noted North American speaker. Susan was the DONA International representative in Geneva for the first IMBCO technical advisory group (TAG) meeting.
Chile
Morella Contreras Ruvinskis, CLD (CBI) is mother of two, doula/breastfeeding consultant, health trainer and director of Mammalia: Women's Support Center in Pregnancy, Labor, Birth, Breastfeeding and Childrearing in Valparaiso, Chile. Mammalia works for the empowerment of women through education and informed decision-making. Currently Mammalia is in the process of establishing a community doula program to provide access to a doula to as many women as possible in the community.
Dominican Republic
Since 1990 Jenny Garcia an OB-GY in Santo Domingo has been working for the humanization of birth by teaching obstetrical residents, teaching childbirth classes, speaking at conferences, and as a certified DONA birth doula and doula trainer she has been training doulas. Jenny is involved with Doulas Dominicanas and has worked with the Public Health Ministry which gives her the opportunity to promote optimal maternity care as defined by the 10 Steps of the IMBCI to improve maternal and child health at both public and private hospitals.
Egypt
Hanaa Mohamad Aboel Kassem, OB/GYN has been working for motherbaby health since 1992. Since then Hanaa has become a Bradley instructor, a trainer for nurses and midwives, and a lecturer on the 10 Steps of the IMBCI. She works at the Alexandria Regional Health Center for Women www.smcalex.org, and attends homebirths.
Greece
Maria Andreoulaki, CD (DONA) is a founding member of ENCA Hellas, and country representative of organizations ENCA, EDN (European Doula Network), and DONA International, in addition to the IMBCO. ENCA Hellas was created for the improvement of perinatal care in Greece, following the initiative of sensitized organizations and individuals/citizens. It represents Greece in the European Network of Childbirth Associations ENCA. Respecting childbirth, promoting natural birth and breasfeeding, encouraging personal choice for birth and the natural paths for motherhood and parenting, ENCA Hellas' members offer their time and services on a voluntary basis, aiming to improve conditions for pregnancy and birth in Greece. ENCA Hellas intends to offer a network, to sensitize and make a call for citizens, accociations and organizations that embrace respect for childbirth. Its aims include promotion of natural childbirth, empowerment of women, supporting breastfeeding and joining all efforts towards the improvement of perinatal care in Greece. For infromation on our actions, please visit our site: www.encahellas.eu.
Hungary
Csomóné Lindmayer Katalin is a doula and childbirth educator, student of midwifery, and leads Eszter-lánc Anyatejmisszió - the Mother's Milk Mission - which works to find donors and receivers of human milk and supports the breastfeeding and supplemental nursing. Katalin is a founding member of Család-Vár Alapítvány, a non-profit organization that supports women and their families throughout the maternity process based on IMBCI's Principles and Steps, providing information and emotional support, and promoting informed choice in maternity care.
India
Dr. Zinal Bhavsar has been a practicing pediatrician for 9 years, and has recently become an IBCLC. With her extensive experience working as an intensivist in emergency services and in newborn care, Dr. Zinal has attended over 5,000 births. She is senior faculty in training paramedical and medical staff in breastfeeding and infant nutrition with the Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI) in Mumbai. Dr. Zinal also conducts workshops for a UNICEF project under the supervision of Dr. Prashant Gangal, the co-coordinator of the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) Mother Support Task Force.
Indonesia
Robin Lim, CPM, is a certified professional midwife, founder and Executive Director for Yayasan Ibu Bumi Sehat (Healthy Mother Earth Foundation) , the author of several books and many educational materials, and lecturer. Bumi Sehat operates birth centers in Bali, Aceh, and Haiti. Robin has contributed to films, and received many awards. She also works in disaster relief and played significant roles in the recovery from the Tsunami in Aceh and the earthquakes in Sumatra and Haiti. She is and featured in the documentary Guerilla Midwife www.skwattacamp.com.
Israel
Carlos Rosenberg, MD is an obstetrician-gynecologist practicing at Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva. Dr. Rosenberg is also the founder and director of “The Womb”, a holistic center that supports childbearing women and their families, and a teacher in the doula courses. He is also certified in Haptonomic accompaniment for pregnant couples from the CIRDH- FRANCE. Such accompaniment enables future parents to establish an emotional relationship with their babies in the womb. www.harechem.com
Italy
Elena Skoko and Alessandra Battisti are committed to disseminating the IMBCI to Italian institutions, facilities, among maternity care providers, and the general public. To do so they worked together to translate the IMBCI into Italian. Elena is a Political Activism Coordinator for Human Rights in Childbirth (HRiC) in Italy, and Alessandra is a lawyer, activist, and a Legal Advocacy Coordinator for HRiC in Italy. They are both members of the Steering Committee for Babies Born Better Survey.
Jordan
Sa'ada Abu Bakr is a mother of 5 children, a doula and childbirth educator from America who moved to Jordan in 2002. As founder of Amanah Wellness she has developed programs that combine Neuro Linguistic Programming and trauma release methods with manual and movement therapies to care for the whole mother and whole baby, body, mind, and soul. Sa'ada wants to increase choices for expecting mothers by opening a water birthing facility in Amman, and increase the number of Baby Friendly Hospitals throughout the country. She wants to work with parents through childbirth education, and work with hospitals through professional education, to increase the rate for initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth. In addition, Sa'ada will work with medical and government sectors to increase reporting and enforcement for violations of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes, using the money from violations to fund the national plan of action.
Mexico
Elena Carrillo, LCCE, CD(DONA), CLC. In addition to serving on the CIMS International Committee and participating in the formation of IMBCO, Elena is the Founder and Director of the Perinatal Centre “Nabor Carrillo, founder of ANIPP (Mexican Childbirth Educators Association), and Program Director of Lamaze/Universidad Anahuac Certification Program. She has also served on the Board of Directors for Lamaze International and DONA International.
Nigeria
Nnanna Theresia Nwakaego is a community health care provider and a Teacher; she is a co-founder of Charitable Health Care Foundation (CHARICARE), an NGO formed to foster community welfare and health development. She is the SG and safe motherhood activist of CHARICARE; she has been actively involved in counseling the community women on birth spacing and timing; she has been actively involved in promoting the education and implementation of the MINIMUM INITIAL SERVICE PACKAGE FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH IN CRISIS SITUATION (MISP), an educative module delivered by the Women’s Refugee Commission; and Theresia is aspiring to foster the ten steps of the IMBCO within local and national health settings in Nigeria.
Peru
Roxana Braschi, studied clinical psychology at The Catholic University in Lima, and obtained her Master’s degree in Education and Psychological Studies from the University of Miami. In addition to being a speaker and writer she is a certified childbirth educator (ICCE), and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). Roxana is a community leader and advocate for the humanization of birth, founder and director of “Prenatal” www.prenatal.com.pe and an expert in psychological counseling for parents and expectant parents.
Philippines
Cecilia Banca-Santos was born in Masapang Victoria, Laguna, the Philippines. She was the youngest among seven, all of whom were delivered at home by a traditional birth attendant (otherwise known as a hilot). She took an early interest in birth, always asking to watch deliveries. She received a Master’s in Public Health from the University of the Philippines in 1991. A midwife for many years, over the past two decades she has served as President of the Integrated Midwives Association of the Philippines, Chair of the Professional Regulation Commission for Continuing Public Education, a member of the Philippines Board of Midwifery, Assistant Secretary to the Dept. of Health, and as Consultant for Health Concerns for the Dept. of the Interior. She currently serves as National President of the Philippine League of Government and Private Midwives and as a Consultant for the Health Futures Foundation. She will advocate for the full implementation of the IMBCI in the Philippines in health facilities with maternity and newborn care services.
Portugal
Margarida Piló is a mother of three, Psychologist, Doula and Lactation Counselor. Margarida is a founding member of Maternar, a non-profit organization that supports women and their families along the maternity process, based on IMBCI's Principles and Steps, providing information and emotional support and promoting informed choice in maternity care.
Romania
The IMBCO Romania team has set the ambitious goal of improving the childbirth experience of Romanian women. We assist and guide hospitals and clinics to understand, commit to and integrate the IMBCI 10 Steps to optimal Motherbaby maternity services in their routine practices. We provide counseling and on-site training for calibrating medical practices and procedures to achieve the IMBCI goals. The Romanian IMBCO team have devised a coherent strategy for granting IMBCI certification to hospitals based on the Baby Friendly model. We monitor the childbirth outcomes and relevant criteria for the IMBCI and we issue reccommendations for better results. The ceritifcation is renewed based on consistent compliance with the IMBCI. Currently, there is only one clinic certified as a MotherBaby Friendly Hospital and its certification is under revision for high perineal trauma rates.
The IMBCO Team consists of Ana Maita, childbirth rights advocate, Claudia Bider Heim, Certified Midwife and ILCA Lactation Consultant.
Rwanda
Jocelyn Jelsma is an active midwife in Rwanda registereed to practice with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Rwanda, she is an approved academic and clinical midwifery instructor, and she teaches midwives in health centers and hospitals. Jocelyn has been instrumental in implementing the 10 Steps of the IMBCI at Rwanda's Iranzi Clinic Birthing Centre in Kigali. She is deeply committed to the 10 Steps of the IMBCI being implemented in Rwanda so mothers and babies can receive and participate in the best care possible during the childbearing year. The centre is also implementing Helping Mothers Survive along with Helping Babies Breathe.
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, and Oman
Aisha Al Hajjar is the founder of AMANI Birth, a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM), and a founding board member for the Saudi Midwifery Group (SMG). Her goals are to bring respect and gentle treatment to the MotherBaby pair during the childbearing year. Aisha believes we need the power of the IMBCO to be heard as we speak up for MotherBaby rights and she presents the IMBCI at conferences all around the GCC countries (noted above).
Slovenia
Zalka Drglin, is a cultural sociologist with a PhD in Women's Studies and Feminist Theory. She is the leader of alternative antenatal classes and leader of the programs in the Natural Beginnings Association, the only NGO dedicated to improving maternity care on the national level. In addition, Zalka is an author, researcher, coordinator, and leader of the projects relating to midwifery, humanization of birth, breastfeeding, and pregnancy and postpartum mental health at the National Institute of Public Health in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
The Netherlands
Jetty Kuiper, is the past chair of the Dutch Association of Professional Doulas, a childbirth educator, and a doula. Jetty is the developer of www.geboortecursus.nl, and Circle of Life is her company. Jetty is a mother of three and proud grandmother of one lovely boy.
Turkey
Hakan Coker and the Istanbul Birth Academy educate couples for natural, respectful, humanistic births. In addition, they are created a Birth With No Regrets team and plan to support these teams to become MBnets. They strive to organize one private hospital to become an MBnet. Their newest organization, Birth Hand in Hand, will bring birth professionals and supporters into one organization.
Uganda
Kato Morris is a birth activist who cares for women's rights and the general living standards of women. He volunteers for the New Living Initiative Africa to partner with the government in Uganda on the reduction of infant mortality. Kato's main goals are to reduce infant mortality rates and gender based violence as well as promoting the good principals of IMBCI
Dr Mara Mohedano, MD is an obstetrician and mother of 5 sons. She has obtained a postgraduate Master's in the Creation of Health Care Systems, as well as taking postgraduate courses in Health Care Politics and Human Rights, and the Politics of Health and Gender. Mara gives talks on these themes in various counrties. From 2000, her official position has been Director of Perinatology and Maternity Care at Hospital Avellaneda in Tucuman. She has worked hard to make this hospital both mother- and baby-friendly. The hospital received their Baby-friendly designation a few years ago, and they are very interested in continuing to work to meet the IMBCO standards of Mother- an Baby-friendly care. Mara is also taking an intensive course in English!
Bangladesh
A.M.M.Samsad is the founding CEO of Movement for Peace and Progress, working for the humanitarian causes of maternal and newborn care in Bangladesh. He is the BFHI Committee member of Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation and one of the Master trainers of IYCF in Bangladesh. He is the working group member of HIV & Breastfeeding for the Asia Pacific. Also he is involved with IBFAN Asia Pacific. Samsad is actively engaged in One Asia Breastfeeding Group ([email protected]) activities and is one of the national coordinators of the AIDS International Candlelight Memorial.
Brazil
Ricardo Jones, MD is physician in obstetrics, gynecology, and homeopathy, an author, and an international spokesperson for the humanization of childbirth. He is a member and medical advisor of Humpar – Associação Portuguesa pela Humanização do Parto (Portuguese Association for Humanization of Childbirth), the medical advisor of ANDO – Associação Nacional de Doulas (National Association of Doulas), professor in the doula courses and perinatal education courses from ANDO (National Association of Doulas) in Brasil and Portugal. Ricardo is also featured as a birth expert in the documentary Orgasmic Birth.
Cameroon
Dr Asomba A.T. is a clinician and pharmacist, a father of three, and CEO of the Christian Community Heath Care Foundation (COHECF), an organization founded in 2000 in Cameroon to promote maternal health and improve youth RH. He has been practicing for the past ten years as the medical consultant for COHECF and is a trainer on the clinical care for sexual assault survivors. He is a member of the White Ribbon Alliance and thus assists in the advocacy for safe motherhood by encouraging better maternity care and safe delivery. He is a member of the International Hospital Federation and the International Pharmaceutical Federation. He is actively involved in fostering good governance in the public sector in Cameroon through the International Governance Institute, Cameroon Chapter.
Canada
Susan Martensen lives in Ottawa and is a DONA International Postpartum Doula Program mentor and trainer, a DONA birth doula trainer, and DONA’s Immediate Past President. She is a founder of LSAR/Doula CARE in Canada, a published author, and a noted North American speaker. Susan was the DONA International representative in Geneva for the first IMBCO technical advisory group (TAG) meeting.
Chile
Morella Contreras Ruvinskis, CLD (CBI) is mother of two, doula/breastfeeding consultant, health trainer and director of Mammalia: Women's Support Center in Pregnancy, Labor, Birth, Breastfeeding and Childrearing in Valparaiso, Chile. Mammalia works for the empowerment of women through education and informed decision-making. Currently Mammalia is in the process of establishing a community doula program to provide access to a doula to as many women as possible in the community.
Dominican Republic
Since 1990 Jenny Garcia an OB-GY in Santo Domingo has been working for the humanization of birth by teaching obstetrical residents, teaching childbirth classes, speaking at conferences, and as a certified DONA birth doula and doula trainer she has been training doulas. Jenny is involved with Doulas Dominicanas and has worked with the Public Health Ministry which gives her the opportunity to promote optimal maternity care as defined by the 10 Steps of the IMBCI to improve maternal and child health at both public and private hospitals.
Egypt
Hanaa Mohamad Aboel Kassem, OB/GYN has been working for motherbaby health since 1992. Since then Hanaa has become a Bradley instructor, a trainer for nurses and midwives, and a lecturer on the 10 Steps of the IMBCI. She works at the Alexandria Regional Health Center for Women www.smcalex.org, and attends homebirths.
Greece
Maria Andreoulaki, CD (DONA) is a founding member of ENCA Hellas, and country representative of organizations ENCA, EDN (European Doula Network), and DONA International, in addition to the IMBCO. ENCA Hellas was created for the improvement of perinatal care in Greece, following the initiative of sensitized organizations and individuals/citizens. It represents Greece in the European Network of Childbirth Associations ENCA. Respecting childbirth, promoting natural birth and breasfeeding, encouraging personal choice for birth and the natural paths for motherhood and parenting, ENCA Hellas' members offer their time and services on a voluntary basis, aiming to improve conditions for pregnancy and birth in Greece. ENCA Hellas intends to offer a network, to sensitize and make a call for citizens, accociations and organizations that embrace respect for childbirth. Its aims include promotion of natural childbirth, empowerment of women, supporting breastfeeding and joining all efforts towards the improvement of perinatal care in Greece. For infromation on our actions, please visit our site: www.encahellas.eu.
Hungary
Csomóné Lindmayer Katalin is a doula and childbirth educator, student of midwifery, and leads Eszter-lánc Anyatejmisszió - the Mother's Milk Mission - which works to find donors and receivers of human milk and supports the breastfeeding and supplemental nursing. Katalin is a founding member of Család-Vár Alapítvány, a non-profit organization that supports women and their families throughout the maternity process based on IMBCI's Principles and Steps, providing information and emotional support, and promoting informed choice in maternity care.
India
Dr. Zinal Bhavsar has been a practicing pediatrician for 9 years, and has recently become an IBCLC. With her extensive experience working as an intensivist in emergency services and in newborn care, Dr. Zinal has attended over 5,000 births. She is senior faculty in training paramedical and medical staff in breastfeeding and infant nutrition with the Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI) in Mumbai. Dr. Zinal also conducts workshops for a UNICEF project under the supervision of Dr. Prashant Gangal, the co-coordinator of the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) Mother Support Task Force.
Indonesia
Robin Lim, CPM, is a certified professional midwife, founder and Executive Director for Yayasan Ibu Bumi Sehat (Healthy Mother Earth Foundation) , the author of several books and many educational materials, and lecturer. Bumi Sehat operates birth centers in Bali, Aceh, and Haiti. Robin has contributed to films, and received many awards. She also works in disaster relief and played significant roles in the recovery from the Tsunami in Aceh and the earthquakes in Sumatra and Haiti. She is and featured in the documentary Guerilla Midwife www.skwattacamp.com.
Israel
Carlos Rosenberg, MD is an obstetrician-gynecologist practicing at Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva. Dr. Rosenberg is also the founder and director of “The Womb”, a holistic center that supports childbearing women and their families, and a teacher in the doula courses. He is also certified in Haptonomic accompaniment for pregnant couples from the CIRDH- FRANCE. Such accompaniment enables future parents to establish an emotional relationship with their babies in the womb. www.harechem.com
Italy
Elena Skoko and Alessandra Battisti are committed to disseminating the IMBCI to Italian institutions, facilities, among maternity care providers, and the general public. To do so they worked together to translate the IMBCI into Italian. Elena is a Political Activism Coordinator for Human Rights in Childbirth (HRiC) in Italy, and Alessandra is a lawyer, activist, and a Legal Advocacy Coordinator for HRiC in Italy. They are both members of the Steering Committee for Babies Born Better Survey.
Jordan
Sa'ada Abu Bakr is a mother of 5 children, a doula and childbirth educator from America who moved to Jordan in 2002. As founder of Amanah Wellness she has developed programs that combine Neuro Linguistic Programming and trauma release methods with manual and movement therapies to care for the whole mother and whole baby, body, mind, and soul. Sa'ada wants to increase choices for expecting mothers by opening a water birthing facility in Amman, and increase the number of Baby Friendly Hospitals throughout the country. She wants to work with parents through childbirth education, and work with hospitals through professional education, to increase the rate for initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth. In addition, Sa'ada will work with medical and government sectors to increase reporting and enforcement for violations of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes, using the money from violations to fund the national plan of action.
Mexico
Elena Carrillo, LCCE, CD(DONA), CLC. In addition to serving on the CIMS International Committee and participating in the formation of IMBCO, Elena is the Founder and Director of the Perinatal Centre “Nabor Carrillo, founder of ANIPP (Mexican Childbirth Educators Association), and Program Director of Lamaze/Universidad Anahuac Certification Program. She has also served on the Board of Directors for Lamaze International and DONA International.
Nigeria
Nnanna Theresia Nwakaego is a community health care provider and a Teacher; she is a co-founder of Charitable Health Care Foundation (CHARICARE), an NGO formed to foster community welfare and health development. She is the SG and safe motherhood activist of CHARICARE; she has been actively involved in counseling the community women on birth spacing and timing; she has been actively involved in promoting the education and implementation of the MINIMUM INITIAL SERVICE PACKAGE FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH IN CRISIS SITUATION (MISP), an educative module delivered by the Women’s Refugee Commission; and Theresia is aspiring to foster the ten steps of the IMBCO within local and national health settings in Nigeria.
Peru
Roxana Braschi, studied clinical psychology at The Catholic University in Lima, and obtained her Master’s degree in Education and Psychological Studies from the University of Miami. In addition to being a speaker and writer she is a certified childbirth educator (ICCE), and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). Roxana is a community leader and advocate for the humanization of birth, founder and director of “Prenatal” www.prenatal.com.pe and an expert in psychological counseling for parents and expectant parents.
Philippines
Cecilia Banca-Santos was born in Masapang Victoria, Laguna, the Philippines. She was the youngest among seven, all of whom were delivered at home by a traditional birth attendant (otherwise known as a hilot). She took an early interest in birth, always asking to watch deliveries. She received a Master’s in Public Health from the University of the Philippines in 1991. A midwife for many years, over the past two decades she has served as President of the Integrated Midwives Association of the Philippines, Chair of the Professional Regulation Commission for Continuing Public Education, a member of the Philippines Board of Midwifery, Assistant Secretary to the Dept. of Health, and as Consultant for Health Concerns for the Dept. of the Interior. She currently serves as National President of the Philippine League of Government and Private Midwives and as a Consultant for the Health Futures Foundation. She will advocate for the full implementation of the IMBCI in the Philippines in health facilities with maternity and newborn care services.
Portugal
Margarida Piló is a mother of three, Psychologist, Doula and Lactation Counselor. Margarida is a founding member of Maternar, a non-profit organization that supports women and their families along the maternity process, based on IMBCI's Principles and Steps, providing information and emotional support and promoting informed choice in maternity care.
Romania
The IMBCO Romania team has set the ambitious goal of improving the childbirth experience of Romanian women. We assist and guide hospitals and clinics to understand, commit to and integrate the IMBCI 10 Steps to optimal Motherbaby maternity services in their routine practices. We provide counseling and on-site training for calibrating medical practices and procedures to achieve the IMBCI goals. The Romanian IMBCO team have devised a coherent strategy for granting IMBCI certification to hospitals based on the Baby Friendly model. We monitor the childbirth outcomes and relevant criteria for the IMBCI and we issue reccommendations for better results. The ceritifcation is renewed based on consistent compliance with the IMBCI. Currently, there is only one clinic certified as a MotherBaby Friendly Hospital and its certification is under revision for high perineal trauma rates.
The IMBCO Team consists of Ana Maita, childbirth rights advocate, Claudia Bider Heim, Certified Midwife and ILCA Lactation Consultant.
Rwanda
Jocelyn Jelsma is an active midwife in Rwanda registereed to practice with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Rwanda, she is an approved academic and clinical midwifery instructor, and she teaches midwives in health centers and hospitals. Jocelyn has been instrumental in implementing the 10 Steps of the IMBCI at Rwanda's Iranzi Clinic Birthing Centre in Kigali. She is deeply committed to the 10 Steps of the IMBCI being implemented in Rwanda so mothers and babies can receive and participate in the best care possible during the childbearing year. The centre is also implementing Helping Mothers Survive along with Helping Babies Breathe.
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, and Oman
Aisha Al Hajjar is the founder of AMANI Birth, a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM), and a founding board member for the Saudi Midwifery Group (SMG). Her goals are to bring respect and gentle treatment to the MotherBaby pair during the childbearing year. Aisha believes we need the power of the IMBCO to be heard as we speak up for MotherBaby rights and she presents the IMBCI at conferences all around the GCC countries (noted above).
Slovenia
Zalka Drglin, is a cultural sociologist with a PhD in Women's Studies and Feminist Theory. She is the leader of alternative antenatal classes and leader of the programs in the Natural Beginnings Association, the only NGO dedicated to improving maternity care on the national level. In addition, Zalka is an author, researcher, coordinator, and leader of the projects relating to midwifery, humanization of birth, breastfeeding, and pregnancy and postpartum mental health at the National Institute of Public Health in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
The Netherlands
Jetty Kuiper, is the past chair of the Dutch Association of Professional Doulas, a childbirth educator, and a doula. Jetty is the developer of www.geboortecursus.nl, and Circle of Life is her company. Jetty is a mother of three and proud grandmother of one lovely boy.
Turkey
Hakan Coker and the Istanbul Birth Academy educate couples for natural, respectful, humanistic births. In addition, they are created a Birth With No Regrets team and plan to support these teams to become MBnets. They strive to organize one private hospital to become an MBnet. Their newest organization, Birth Hand in Hand, will bring birth professionals and supporters into one organization.
Uganda
Kato Morris is a birth activist who cares for women's rights and the general living standards of women. He volunteers for the New Living Initiative Africa to partner with the government in Uganda on the reduction of infant mortality. Kato's main goals are to reduce infant mortality rates and gender based violence as well as promoting the good principals of IMBCI