The Independent Midwives Association of Namibia (IMANA) is a national body representing Namibian midwives. IMANA was founded in 2014 by a group of passionate midwives who realized the need for a Midwives Association in Namibia, because by then, there was a lack of a national network for midwives and midwives had been excluded from the knowledge exchange regionally and globally. In 2015 IMANA became a member of the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM). The association aims to inspire a sense of harmony, belonging, professional identity and unity of purpose among Namibian midwives.
IMANA unifies the efforts of midwives making them stronger, more visible and more credible. It is a platform for developing strong, supportive, positive relationships among midwives, other health professions and stakeholders such as the government and private hospitals, UN agencies, NGOs and the regulatory body.
IMANA aims to contribute to improved reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health in Namibia. IMANA believes that midwives should be at the centre of maternal and newborn health policy as vessels for improved service delivery to women, families, and communities within their jurisdiction. As an association, IMANA advocates for midwives to work in supportive work environments, advocate for equal access to safe and respectful working environments and sufficient resources to effectively fulfil the full scope of their work.
