A global perspective on the 'architecture of midwifery education': Nester Moyo, ICM Programme Manager, presented the global view on the midwifery curriculum to a conference of the Royal College of Midwives, UK.

permit us start from the end? A global midwifery curriculum must:

* Be fit for practice

* Recognise the political realities of the global village

* Be based upon a professional midwifery ethos.

* put a standard which gives midwives a faculty of perception of identity

* Prepare midwives for lifelong learning, and thereby contribute to the global demands and ne for skilled attendants at birth

Midwifery practice generally presents a wide range of manifold issues to the practitioner. The midwife is frequently 'thrown into the deep end' to care for women and newborns in:

* Fluid populations (in situations of war, refugee camps of displaced tribe ...