Elevate the practices of midwives and ensure that every woman has access to the sexual and reproductive care they truly deserve.
A contribution to the Luc Memorial Fund provides recognition and reward to midwives providing care in the most challenging settings.
Mieke was a Dutch midwife, educator and a passionate advocate of pregnancy and childbirth as a natural life event with midwives as the best-possible care providers for birthing women. Throughout her career, Mieke defended and promoted the professional autonomy of midwives, leading a charge in the 1970s to oppose the Dutch government’s decision to prohibit the direct entry midwifery education route to midwifery registration, leaving only a post-nursing route to becoming a midwife. Beyond this successful campaign, Mieke contributed to midwifery in her home country in many ways, serving terms as a Board Member and Advisor to the Board with the Dutch Organisation of Midwives (later becoming the Royal Dutch Organisation of Midwives – KNOV). Mieke also encouraged her younger colleagues to join the KNOV and unite at the national and international levels.
On April 5, 2019, Mieke passed away at the age of 95.5, continuing to attend midwives’ meetings until the end. According to friends and family, Mieke would have been proud to be WithWomen’s first donor, thereby promoting normal birth and the autonomous role of midwives. Her generous contribution will contribute to WithWomen’s work to strengthen midwife-led care for all women.
