PRE-EMPT at Women Deliver 2019

n June, our team at PRE-EMPT participated in Women Deliver 2019 – a conference that occurs once every three years and brings together thousands of activists, global leaders, organizations and government officials to mobilize for gender equality and women’s rights and health. This year, there were more than 8,000 registered participants from all over the world, and we were thrilled to take part in welcoming delegates to Vancouver, the home of the PRE-EMPT Coordinating Centre.

 It was truly inspiring and also humbling to see and hear about the amazing work being done in many sectors, and to build new connections with like-minded individuals and organizations who share our vision of advancing global maternal health. As Diamond sponsors, we had a strong presence at the Fuelling Station where we got to showcase the work that we have done over the course of the past 8 years, in 22 countries, and which has resulted in over 186 publications.

At PRE-EMPT, we work closely with the global health community and local maternal health providers in under resourced communities to make a positive impact on mothers and babies. At the conference, most of our work was showcased in the form of colourful, easy-to-read infographics for delegates to pick up and take home. We also featured a booklet highlighting our key abstracts that have been accepted at conferences, either published or in-press in academic journals. You can find the e-version of our abstracts booklet here.

Perhaps the busiest corner of our booth was the Tech Bar where we had our tech devices on display. Devices like the CRADLE-Microlife device and TraCer piqued the interest of many that visited our booth. Our staff and volunteers were happy to conduct demos and answer questions that came their way. At PRE-EMPT, we are passionate about research and translating new knowledge into real-world settings.

The PRE-EMPT team also hosted an evening reception to celebrate project achievements and new evidence aimed at improving global maternal health. It gave us a unique opportunity to gather with our friends and colleagues to share the joy over drinks and appetizers. PRE-EMPT also hosted a lunch session during the conference titled ‘Re-thinking Women’s Health: gender-based innovative science for integrated health systems’. We had an engaging panel that re-appraised the global community’s approach to addressing women’s health through a gendered lens. Critical women’s health issues were discussed, such as cervical cancer, pre-eclampsia, and quality of care services. We created a platform to advocate for the need of evidence-based solutions and integrated health systems to address maternal mortality in women during pregnancy, and beyond. The entire session was creatively documented by the Fuselight Creative in the form of a live graphic recording!

Throughout the week, our booth was buzzing with energy thanks to everyone who stopped by; whether it was just to say to hi and check out our swag, to pick up a Vancouver postcard for their friends and family, or to share their vision for maternal health by taking a Polaroid in front of our Insta-inspired photobooth! If you want to find your picture, check out our Instagram page and follow us on Twitter!

Written by Shazmeen Omar (PRE-EMPT Research Assistant)