Uganda will tomorrow be joining the rest of the world to mark the International Day of the Midwife 2017 with the national celebrations to be held in Kabarole district with the country still having a huge gap in addressing skilled midwifery numbers to be able to serve the fast ever growing population.
Ms. Rebecca Nassuna, the deputy Registrar, Uganda Nurses and Midwives Council said the theme for Uganda’s national celebrations is “Midwives, Mothers and Families: Partners for Life”.
Uganda has made great strides in maternal health, according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) key indicators report for the sixth Demographic and Health Survey 2016 report. Maternal mortality has reduced from 438 deaths per 100,000 live births registered in the 2011 UDHS report to the current 343 deaths per 100,000 live births.
“This is an ideal opportunity to showcase and appreciate the work of over 8000 midwives in Uganda,” Ms. Nassuna said on Thursday.
“We have to strengthen our health system to ensure all women are receiving care from expert midwives,” Ms. Joan Bigaba, a Kampala based medic told TheUgandan. She said the International Day of the Midwife is an opportunity to educate civil servants and the wider public about the responsibilities of the job.”
Lydia Tino, a health supervisor and midwife working at a centre in Gulu District says the key message for Friday is that supporting midwives supports women, mothers and families.
The word midwife means “with woman” and Lydia Tino says of course that’s what midwives do, they accompany a woman on her journey through pregnancy and childbirth into motherhood.
“An essential focus has always been about relationship building with women and supporting women through their unique childbirth journey. Developing relationships with colleagues is also an important part of midwifery, the sharing of knowledge which adds to our practice and experience which ultimately benefits women and their families.”
The United Nations Population Fund, formerly the United Nations Fund for Population Activities’ country representative, Alain Sibenaler challenges Uganda to use the current efforts attained in reduce maternal deaths to continue recruiting more midwives to help in scaling down the numbers more as he notes that over 3000 midwives are needed to be able the extend midwifery service to the expectant mother very well.
