WORKSHOP ONE: HARARE, BRONTE HOTEL 8-10 AUGUST, 2013

Twenty (20) midwives from different levels of the health care system were participants of the first LAMRN workshop held on 8 to 10 August 2013 at the Bronte Hotel in Harare. All attended the first 2 days of the workshop while the 3 who would be midwifery leaders (seen in the picture0 were participants of the last day of the workshop.

The overall goal of the workshop was to initiate a

Left to right: Grace Danda, Peggy Dube, Kushupika Dube
sustainable process of developing a thriving
collaborative research network at national
and regional levels with consultant and financial
support from University of Manchester. It formed
the foundation for the midwives in Zimbabwe to
actively participate in this process.

Specific objectives were designed to i) introduce the midwives to LAMRN; ii) discuss evidence–based practice; iii) introduce the midwives to the Delphi process; iv) develop research skills through discussing steps in literature review, narrative versus systematic review and critiquing the literature; and v) initiate the process of developing a critical mass of the network. The process was guided and supported by the Manchester University UK (Drs Carol Bedwell & Judith Williams) and the Zimbabwe Country Focal Lead (Dr Christina Mudokwenyu-Rawdon).
The key issues that emerged from the workshop were that research was the backbone of for promoting evidenced based practice and hence strengthening midwives’ research skills was viewed as critical for Zimbabwe and the region. The way the midwives responded to the workshop demonstrated that they were motivated and empowered. Participants perceived the workshop as significant in laying the foundation for subsequent LAMRN workshops. They also demonstrated appreciation for having been chosen among many other midwives in Zimbabwe and hence pledged their commitment to actively participate in LAMRN to advance the midwifery research agenda and evidence based practice at national and regional levels. Peggy Dube, Grace Danda and Kushupika Dube were selected for leadership development.