About the event:

This Third National and International Gathering of wise women and men, midwives, birth attendants, and traditional healers from across Ecuador centers ancestral knowledge as a living system of care. Hosted in Esmeraldas, the convening expands beyond discussions of health services to address history, resistance, and the continuity of knowledge systems that have sustained communities in the absence of formal state structures.

The gathering recognizes ancestral health not as folklore or alternative practice, but as a legitimate system of care grounded in dignity, autonomy, and collective rights. It brings attention to the hands, bodies, and knowledge networks that sustain life across generations, affirming their role within broader conversations on health equity and sovereignty.

One Million Midwives’ role:

One Million Midwives will participate in professional dialogue centered on midwifery education systems, workforce development, and the intersection of ancestral knowledge and formalized training structures. Engagement focuses on how educational frameworks can better reflect community-based practice while maintaining accreditation alignment and institutional rigor.

Why it matters:

This convening contributes to broader international discussions on how midwifery education systems integrate cultural knowledge, workforce sustainability, and structured curriculum development within evolving global standards.