WHO CC activities in Czech Republic: piloting the Midwifery Assessment Tool for Education (MATE)

On 19-20^th February 2018 Professor Billie Hunter and Lynn Lynch attended a meeting hosted by the representatives of Czech Midwives Association and co-ordinated by Professor Radka Wilhelmova at the Masaryk University in Brno Czech Republic. This was a joint meeting organised between Cardiff University WHO Midwifery Collaborating Centre (WHO CC) and the European Midwives Association (EMA), to pilot a Midwifery Assessment Tool for Education ‘MATE’ developed by WHO CC. Billie and Lynn were joined by EMA President Mervi Jokinen.

A wide range of representatives attended, including midwifery lecturers, regulators, practising midwives and midwifery students as well as women’s organisations.

After presentations from Professor Billie Hunter and Lynn Lynch introducing the MATE tool and President Mervi Jokinen on EMA, the rest of the day was spent in a fully interactive programme. There were excellent contributions from all participants and we gained many insights into state of midwifery in Czech Republic.

This was the first face-to-face pilot of the tool and we have taken back valuable comments to shape the further development of the tool. Many thanks to the excellent hosts especially Dr. Radka Wilhelmova and everyone who attended the meeting, also to Mervi Jokinen for her support.