The WHO TMGL will feature thematic pages that will allow the delve deeper into the content in specific areas. The first, presented during the WHO TMGL pre-launch event, is dedicated to Traditional Midwifery in the Americas, a Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) development in collaboration with the Department of Social and Environmental Determinants for Health Equity (DHE) and the Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Science Information (BIREME).
“Traditional midwifery represents one of the oldest and most profound expressions of human knowledge. It is a practice that has accompanied women, families, and communities through the most important moments in life: birth, the care of life, and the continuity of existence. Through this new section in the Global Library, PAHO seeks to recognize, make visible, and preserve the ancestral knowledge of traditional midwifery that, generation after generation, has contributed to maternal, newborn, and community health worldwide,” explained Gerry Eijkemans, Director of DHE.
The Traditional Midwifery Thematic Page is the tangible result of this collaboration, integrating editorial content with a literature review, testimonials from Indigenous and Afro-descendant midwives, multimedia resources, and links to regulatory frameworks and intercultural policies.
This development exemplifies how co-creation between technical teams an
d communities can strengthen the visibility of traditional practices, promote intercultural dialogue, and serve as a replicable model for future WHO TMGL thematic pages.
“This was a unique opportunity to collectively validate the development of the Traditional Midwifery page at WHO TMGL, strengthening its cultural and technical relevance before its official launch,” said Mirelys Díaz, who is part of the team responsible for developing WHO TMGL at the Center.
The topics of Anthroposophical Medicine, Integrative Pediatrics, Integrative Oncology, Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Homeopathy will be part of the next development phase of the WHO TMGL Thematic Pages, strengthening cooperation with international networks and specialists in TCIM.
Each thematic page will follow a standardized structure, organized into sections that combine contextual narrative, informational resources, and a dynamic space for news and events. The purpose is to connect scientific evidence with ancestral knowledge and community experiences, thus within the context of the innovations that characterize the information products and services developed and coordinated regionally by BIREME/PAHO/WHO.
Also visit: BIREME/PAHO and the Pre-Launch of the WHO Traditional Medicine Global Library.