By Nneka Nwogwugwu
International Council of Multiple Birth Organisations (ICOMBO) has kicked off the International Multiple Birth Awareness Week (IMBAW) 2021.
The one week awareness on risks, complications and issues facing multiple births community started on Monday and will be concluded on Sunday.
The ICOMBO chairperson, Monica Rankin, in a statement said that the organisation is collaborating to bring together organizations from across the world who are united in raising awareness.
“Our almost 30 member organizations have worked together on projects, but also with researchers and doctors to create learning opportunities and awareness campaigns.”
She added that ICOMBO with member organizations will work together to bring to light the challenges multiple birth families face.
Explaining the reason for the awareness week, Ezeaka said the core focus of the week is to educate communities and professionals about the unique challenges of the world of multiples and what we can learn from them.
“The International Council of Multiple Birth Organisations (ICOMBO) passionately drives change into the way multiple births are seen across the world, and its member organisations collaborate to educate and promote further research.
“IMBAW is held annually to change the public perception of these unique births, and their families and shed light on the risks, the complications, and the issues faced in the multiple birth community.
IMBAW is also about showing the world the need for more research into multiples and also recognizing their unique contributions to research. It is also about highlighting the need to improve outcomes for twins, triplets, and higher-order multiples, and how a collaborative approach to this can make a positive impact.
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Monica Rankin, ICOMBO Chairperson stated, “This year we’re highlighting the unique role that twins and multiples play in research and the partnerships and collaborations that result from this.
“Twins are involved in research in many areas, including aging, cardiac conditions, cancer, smoking, and alcohol effects, just to name a few.
“Their contribution drives improvement in the health and well-being of multiples and also in the wider community.”
The organisation is collaborating with 24 members from multiple birth clubs across many countries (note some countries have more than one organisation who are members): Argentina, Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Liberia, New Zealand and Nigeria.
Others are Norway, Rwanda, Serbia, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, UK and USA.
There are also four organisational members who have international reach:
• TTTS (based in USA)
• Twinless Twins (based in USA)
• The Mighty Mothers (a blog based in Belgium)
• TAPS (based in The Netherlands.
Also, Mr Godwin Ezeaka, the Executive Director, Twins and Multiple Births Care Foundation, Nigeria, and member of ICOMBO told NatureNews that he is advocating and campaigning for the establishment of Multiple Births Trust Fund that will ensure that poor and vulnerable families are properly catered and cared for adequately.
