The International Alliance on Stillbirth (ISA) Conference was held on the American University of Antigua (AUA) campus on November 5th and 6th with more than 50 delegates from 16 countries attending, including the participation of five neighboring Caribbean countries. More than 100 AUA students and numerous AUA faculty members attended.

The conference included two sessions and was co-hosted by Sands Antigua & Barbuda and AUA. The Bereavement and Support session stressed improving regional parent-support services following an infant’s death. Emphasis was placed on the bereavement process within the context of regional culture and the family’s religious background. The Best Practice Maternity Care session addressed supporting parents who wished to have additional children. The sessions were led by physicians, nurses, midwives, social workers, and bereaved parents.

Attendees concluded the conference by agreeing to create a Caribbean Chapter of ISA. In the future, AUA community outreach activities will include working with ISA-Caribbean to help with the new chapter’s multiple initiatives.

From the sponsoring organizations’ websites

“ISA is a non-profit coalition of organizations dedicated to understanding the causes and prevention of stillbirth. The mission of ISA is to raise awareness of stillbirth and to promote global collaboration in the prevention of stillbirth and the provision of appropriate care for parents whose baby is stillborn.”

“Sands Antigua & Barbuda is a new local support group, run on a voluntary basis, offering totally confidential help and support to bereaved parents who have suffered the death of a baby before, during or after birth.”