MINISTER within the Ministry of Public Health Dr. Karen Cummings, on Thursday said her ministry was committed to improving the midwives fraternity, in order to ensure that efficient work is produced and there is a decrease in maternal mortality.

Speaking at the launch of the 5th Annual Midwives Conference held at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, Minister Cummings disclosed that, “The discussions come at a time when the midwives should hit opportunities for improving the health services rather than miss them.”

Showing Care
Further, she said, the ministry believes there should be a paradigm shift in the way patients are treated, to the way the healthcare providers will show that they care. Dr Cummings emphasised that, “making women’s lives worthy and worthwhile means that personally and collectively, we have to think and act with a new set of priorities that say we CARE.”
Care, however, was used in this instance as an acronym for, “C- identify the challenges of midwifery, A- take action to maximise opportunities to improve the craft, R- Justify the reasons for a new and fresh approach, and E- Embrace global best practices.”
Observing that the conference was being held under the theme, “Super midwives: making a difference in maternity care,” they were enlightened on some of the tasks that would classify them as super, while also taking into consideration ‘CARE’.
Given that they are equipped with skills beyond normal nurses, they still face some major challenges; one the minister pointed out as being the lack of resources and unavailable quality services which account for deaths that are preventable.

Maternal Morbidity
“Maternal and child morbidity is an international tragedy; 530,000 women die yearly from pregnancy-related complications. Developing regions account for approximately 99% of the global deaths in 2015,” declared Minister Cummings. In that light, she noted that the new focus of the ministry is on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals that were not achieved and also sustain those for which progress has been made.
Through this approach they will not only identify challenges, but also take relevant action to maximise opportunities to improve the craft of midwifery.

Meanwhile, also speaking at the launching of the two-day conference, the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO)/World Health Organisation (WHO) Representative, Dr. William Adu-Krow challenged the Ministry of Public Health to raise working standards for the midwives.
This, he maintained, is the only way in which there will be more efficient work coming from them. Dr. Adu-Krow pointed out some of the conditions which these specially trained nurses have to work under; as well their low incomes. “In order to promote good work and give the midwives encouragement to work, these little things will need to be addressed and as such PAHO, is open to help in some of the initiatives which the ministry plans,” he said.