6. ADVOCACY

NPM being a new cadre needs a more enabling environment to become a thriving and dynamic workforce. As mentioned in the Guidelines, context-specific advocacy is essential for this programme.

6a. Exposure Visits Encouraging and organising exposure visits for relevant stakeholders to visit midwifery sites that have been set up across the country and in Karnataka, has been a useful strategy – seeing is believing.

6b. Dissemination Workshops After every NMTI and / or SMTI batch, we organise a one-day workshop with an aim to create more awareness about the NPM programme and the midwifery model of care among medical and nursing colleges and hospitals across private and public sectors. We focus on helping stakeholders understand the role and value of midwifery within a healthcare system and share both clinical and programmatic learnings. We have had over 500 people attending these workshops, and one of the most critical aspects has been identifying obstetric champions, who give voice to the midwifery cause, thus strengthening the programme.

6c. Use of Social Media Aastrika Foundation also has a social media handle, where we share key programme and clinical updates, to ensure information regarding the NPM programme can be accessed by a larger audience.