The Itinerary

South Africa is faced with the challenge of increasing numbers of women who die needlessly due to pregnancy and child birth. In order to reduce maternal and child mortality and morbidity, the 9th Annual Midwifery Congress seeks to focus on strategies to introduce and/or improve in midwifery practice that will ensure improved maternal and child outcomes. Therefore, the following activities will be presented at the congress:

 

Keynote speakers
Paper and poster presentation
Congress Theme

 

The International Confederation of Midwives adopted the theme: 'The World needs midwives, now more than ever” until 2011. This was also the theme for the celebration of International day of the Midwife (5 May 2009). The focus for the annual congress of the Society of Midwives of South Africa falls on the complex challenges and the solutions thereof for Midwifery in Africa. Thus the theme is:

 

"AFRICA NEEDS MIDWIVES, NOW MORE THAN EVER".

Sub-Themes

• Ethical recruitment
• Midwifery education, scope of practice & mentoring
• Retention of Midwives, Context of midwifery
• Legal aspects and Ethics in midwifery, including political aspects
• Saving Mothers and Saving Babies, Saving Midwives

We encourage abstracts that address a variety of settings and contexts, tackle issues pertinent to meeting the Millennium Development Goals and highlight the changing health challenges and environment which require more highly skilled midwifery practitioners.

To address the main theme and the sub-themes, presentations should address:

• Who is a midwife?
• Why we need midwives?
• How do we get them? - recruitment
• How do we develop them? -
  Education and training scope of practice etc
• How do we keep them? - retention, enabling environment
• Challenges and solutions should be addressed with every paper 

Workshops

A workshop by the White Ribbon Alliance and the Midwives AIDS Alliance to empower midwives will be presented.

We invite submission of simulated skills based workshops

Afternoon sessions would take place at state of the art simulation laboratories and a first for SA and Africa, a virtual healthcare teaching and learning facility at the School of Nursing of the University of the Free State

Call for abstracts

You are invited to submit an abstract for review (and if accepted to present a paper) in line with one of the congress themes.  Abstract submission forms are available from the congress offices, by email or online for downloading. Only electronically submitted abstracts will be accepted.  Faxed abstracts will not be accepted.

Abstract Format

The abstract should:

Be emailed to the congress office;
Make sure that the title of the paper is no longer than 15 words
Have all contact details clearly stated on the form
Have the sub-theme of the paper clearly stated
Be word processed (MS Word)
Be in 12 point font
Not exceed 300 words
Clearly indicate the presenting author
Submit a professional biography of the presenting author  
+- 100 words in a separate document

Abstract Deadline

The deadline for submission of abstracts is 1 September 2009.  Notification of acceptance or rejection of abstracts will be by 25 September 2009.

If your abstract is accepted

If your abstract is accepted for presentation as an oral presentation or workshop you need to register for the congress before 15 October 2009.

ONLY KEYNOTE & INVITED SPEAKERS WILL HAVE THEIR REGISTRATION FEES WAIVED.

Keynote, Invited & Congress Speakers

All speakers are requested to submit their PowerPoint presentations to the congress offices by 16th November 2009.  Presentations will be pre-loaded onto the laptop at the congress venue.  PowerPoint presentations will be published on a CD and made available to delegates. Authors who do not want their work published in this format, should please indicate this.

 

Who should attend this congress?

Midwives, neonatal nurses & healthcare professionals representing academic institutions & service providers from the public and private health sectors.  Doctors, nutritionists, allied health workers, reproductive health professionals, traditional birth attendants, doulas.

 

Registration Fees are as follows:

Early bird registration - now until 15 October 2009

Members:         R1500.00
Non-members:  R2000.00

General registration – 16 October until 15 November 2009

Members:         R2000.00
Non-members:  R2600.00

Late comer registration – 16 November until 27 November 2009

Members:         R2600.00
Non-members:  R3000.00

On site registration 30 November until 1 December 2009

Members:         R3000.00
Non-members:  R3500.00

SOMSA would like to recommend to its members the exclusion of official government orders for registration fee purposes,

The alternative being the use of an ADVANCE PAYMENT via your local travel agent.

 

Annual membership R360.00 including the membership card.

 

The annual membership of R360.00 includes your membership card.

 

Membership fees should have been paid before the due date for membership to qualify for reduced rate registration.

Included in this fee are the following:

• 3 ½ days of presentations and workshops
• Gala Dinner (meal and drinks)
• Cocktail party (snacks and drinks)
• Tea and coffee on arrival, mid-morning and mid-afternoon refreshments - daily
• Lunch on a daily basis
• A certificate of attendance
• Name tag
• Materials
• Delegate bag

Completed registration forms should be faxed, emailed or posted to the congress office.  Registration forms need to be fully completed before registration can be processed.  The details on the registration forms are deemed to be correct.  Please write clearly so that your name is correctly spelt on your name tag and certificate of attendance.  An invoice will be sent to you for payment as soon as the administrative process has been completed.

Payment Gateway

Pre-payment by EFT or bank deposit is required before your registration can be taken as confirmed.  It is your (the registrant's) responsibility to make sure that the deposit slip or EFT is supplied to the congress office.  Please make sure that your invoice number is used as a reference on your deposit slip or EFT.

 

PLEASE NOTE:  As soon as an invoice has been issued you will be considered personally liable for its payment.

Deadline for registration

The deadline for registration is close of business on Friday 13th November 2009.  No registration forms will be accepted after this date.

SOMSA request its members and prospective delegates not to use government orders for payment of registration fees, as these are only paid after the congress and significant costs are incurred and have to be paid before the congress. The preferred route would be to use an advance payment through a travel agent

Kindly Note:  In the current economic climate, the Free State Society of Midwives is aiming to host a congress of a very high scientific quality.

An adequate, affordable provision of meals and accommodation will be provided.

Come and experience Central South Africa as a warm and down to earth meeting place for Midwives!

Bloemfontein, Free State Province, South Africa

Capital of The Free State Province and ideally situated for cultural & historical experience and break-aways into central South Africa. Bloemfontein boasts excellent accommodation, fine weather and a busy, friendly population, making it the ideal business or getaway destination in the geographic and economic heart of South Africa.

Nearest Airport

Bloemfontein Airport is situated 10 km from the city. The airport functions as an international airport - currently mainly to Sub-Saharan Africa. Approximately 5 000 aircraft use the airport annually, bringing in 38 000 passengers. Freight to the extent of 1,7 million kilograms is also handled every year. Bloemfontein Airport offers daily return flights from Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.

South African Express Airlines:  Website

Call Center:  0861 606 606

Attractions & Activities

Things to do in and around Bloemfontein:

 

Anglican Cathedral
Major Henry Warden, founder of Bloemfontein, gave Bloemfontein a spiritual heart when he laid the foundation of the Victorian building in 1850

City Hall

A stately sandstone building designed by Sir Gordon Leith

Old Government Building
A fine piece of old Cape Dutch architecture, housing the National Afrikaans Museum

Bloemfontein Orchid House
One of the most modern nurseries of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere

Naval Hill
An extremely popular hill providing excellent view of the town and the Franklin Game Reserse forms part of the hill

Loch Logan Waterfront
Is an innovative waterfront-style project offering entertainment, restaurants pubs and shopping for all ages

Oliewenhuis Art Gallery
This stately neo-Cape Dutch house was built to accommodate visiting Governor-General and Head of State. It became a gallery in 1985

Civic Centre
The modern glass building, headquarters of the Municipality, was inaugurated in 1992, boast modern conference facilities

CR Swart Building

The "Pride of the Free State" housing the Provincial Administration and a 26th-floor revolving restaurant

 

Accommodation

There are over 250 different places to stay when in Bloemfontein. A list of these establishments is available as a downloadable document from our website. Alternatively, make contact with the Bloemfontein Tourism Board for further assistance or to get a full list of accommodation available.

Bloemfontein Tourism

 

Tel:  +(2751) 405 8489
Fax: +(2751) 447 3859
E-mail: Contact Us

University of the Free State Hostel accommodation can be booked through Enquiries on - Tel: 0861 921 921 or Fax 051 406 1795, or at this online facility

 

 

 

 

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