By Asma’u Ahmad
The Federal Government has restated its commitment to raise the standard of midwifery practice in the country, the Minster of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole said.
Prof. Adewole spoke at an event to mark the 2017 International Day of the Midwife in Abuja on Tuesday. The theme of this year’s celebration is; “Strengthening Midwifery Pre-service Training in Nigeria.” The minister said that the theme of this year’s celebration was in line with the government’s agenda to upgrade the standard of midwifery service in Nigeria.
Prof. Isaac Adewole
According to him, the government is pursuing this agenda through curricular review, human resource development, and upgrade of training institutes among others.
He described human capacity development as one of the most critical elements of any functioning healthcare institution. “There is also need to provide opportunity for a systemic process and absorbing of fresh graduates into the system. “This administration is committed to providing enabling working environment through infrastructure, and training as well as regular promotion to deserving workers,” he said.
He appealed to health workers to provide leadership and harmony in the work place. Professor Adewole also urged health workers to adopt a holistic approach in caring for patients in order to improve their confidence in the healthcare system.
Also speaking, the Executive Director, UNFPA, Dr Babatunde Osotimehin, said the organisation would support the midwifery schools through capacity building. Represented by Dr Eugene Kongnyuy, the UNFPA executive director said he would also assist in strengthening the schools to meet global standard.
According to him, UNFPA will also invest in human resource and equip the schools with materials such as books, modern laboratories and an enabling environment for them to effectively save lives. Dr. Osotimehin said educating midwives in line with international standard would provide 87 per cent of healthcare needed by women and newborn.
Earlier, the Chairman of National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Mrs Margret Akinsola, said the provision of adequate training of midwives could help prevent 2/3 of maternal deaths being recorded in the country.
She said that quality education and training, increase in adequate wages, social protection, as well as providing a safe work place for midwives would enable them discharge their duties effectively.
Mrs Akinsola noted that Infant mortality had reduced by 15 per cent through the service of midwives, saying that they were most needed in preventing maternal deaths. She urged the Federal Government to empower the midwives, especially those in the rural communities, adding that it would help reduce infant mortality.
The President of NANNM, Comrade Abdulafiu Adeniji said the high rate of maternal deaths was unacceptable and called on stakeholders to wage in to combat the shortage of midwives in the country.
The Wife of the Senate President, Mrs Toyin Saraki said that deploying health workers to the rural areas would help reduce mortality rates in the country.
