From AMRN to LAMRN: A brief History

The Lugina Africa Midwives Network (LAMRN) originally started out as the African Midwives Research Network (AMRN). The latter was initiated in Tanzania in 1992 by midwives from Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, and Sweden at a Swedish Agency for Research Cooperation in Developing Countries (SAREC) sponsored Regional Reproductive Health Workshop.

Spanning more than two decades of networking and information sharing activities the network was initially supported by SIDA support in collaboration with Karolinska Institute, Division of Reproductive and Perinatal Health care.

The AMRN network had active participation from Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Uganda, Kenya and Eritrea. Other countries that have been involved through the Millennium Health Research Award by the Rockefeller Foundation are Ethiopia, Egypt, Djibouti, Nigeria, Swaziland, Malawi and Botswana.

An  A-list of dedicated Champions

Since the initiation of the Network, its dreams and aspirations have been lived in the lives of many midwifery champions in the region. A very brief list of some of them between 1997 through 2001 includes:

• Mrs Nester Murira (Zimbabwe) – served in a coordination role
• Mrs Stella Mpanda( Tanzania) –  Chair 1997 – 2001
• Dr. Helen Lugina (Tanzania) Chair 2001
• Mrs. Margaret Maimbolwa (Zambia) –Vice Chairperosn 1997 – 2001
• Mrs Jemima Mutaabazi – (Uganda) Secretary
• Ms.FeddyMwanga – (Tanzania) Treasurer
• Mrs LemlemYekuno-Amlak- (Eritrea) – Vice Chairperson

The Networks’ original aim remains to serve as a base for sharing information, strategies and solutions based on scientific evidence for provision of quality midwifery care in the region.

The Network also aims at enhancing the expanded role of the midwife in sexual and reproductive health and rights by identifying the research evidence available and encouraging its use and also encouraging more action-oriented research among midwives.

With new support from the DFID, UKAID and the leadership of the University of Manchester midwives, the networks’ activities will seek to advance the original ideals of the founding champions while also taking newer challenges in six countries over the next two years.

Now known as the Lugina Africa Midwives Research Network, in memory of one of the foremost champions the late Dr. Helen Igobeko Lugina, whose dedicated service to the field of midwifery in Africa, saw her make significant contributions, in training, research and policy advocacy. You can read more about AMRN HERE