HEALTH Minister, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran has charged midwives to display more leadership, as it is essential especially at the departmental and institutional levels in order that maternal deaths are further reduced. Dr Ramsaran told the health personnel at the fourth Midwives Conference that attracted a wide-cross section of midwives from the 10 administrative regions, who gathered to look at ways in which they can improve pregnancy-related complications, of how critical is their role in reducing deaths.
The annual event which was held at the Regency Hotel, Hadfield Street, under the theme, ‘Midwives: Improving Women’s Health in Guyana’, was hosted by the Midwives Association though support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the International Confederation of Midwives.

Dr. Ramsaran pointed to the progress the country’s health sector has made in reducing maternal deaths, despite faced with challenges, which could have been avoided, if leadership capabilities were seriously undertaken.
“At the level of the Cabinet, we are alarmed at the infant mortality rate, and have been putting additional measures in place to ensure this becomes a thing of the past…Earlier this year, I discovered maternal deaths from the newspapers… I wasn’t even made aware of the situation from the respective heads,” he said.
“While we have had some instances of maternal deaths, I am appalled because in indigenous communities we do not hear of such occurrences, but rather in institutions which boast state-of-the-art facilities,” he said.
Minister Ramsaran committed to ensuring that all measures be put in place to ensure that midwives are comfortable. A call was also made for midwives to embark on the Continuing Medical Education, even as they were encouraged by the Health Minister to take pride in their work as it defines their career.

Frances Ganges, International Confederation Board Member for North America and the Caribbean, spoke of the undertaking of the organisation, to ensure that midwifery is improved countrywide.
She added that while society at large approaches the 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), midwives should explore ways in which they can improve on the quality of care provided.
“Even as we move forward, the role of midwives should be enhanced, as it is an important aspect in the health sector of any country….more emphasis should be placed on improved services provided, to ensure no more of our women die while giving life,” she said.
According to Ganges, the IMC sees Guyana as an important player, and has since been working collaboratively to ensure that the maternal situation is improved, and urged the midwives present to stand up and take leadership roles for women’s health.
Annually, a tri-annual Congress is held to highlight the role midwives play in society. This, according to Ganges, is an important function which Guyana should be more involved in.
“This year, the congress was held in Africa, and the Caribbean was represented by 34 midwives all from Trinidad and Tobago. 2014 will be the next congress and I hope to see Guyana taking a lead role here,” she said.
Outgoing UNFPA’s Technical Specialist for the Maternal Health Thematic Find, Derven Patrick stated that while UNFPA has been committed to ensuring that maternal health in Guyana improves, midwives also need to play their part in ensuring that the maternal death figures improve.
“You (midwives), as individuals have to work harder to encourage your colleagues to be more active especially in the association…you also need to work harder in strengthening your financial status, because if you work hard and demonstrate your ability, funding will come,” he said.
During the congress, several areas were addressed including emergency contraceptives, midwives’ scope of practice, respectful maternity care and puerperal psychosis.
After a Simulation exercise on safely helping babies breathe, the Association’s Bi-Annual report and elections of its Executive Members for 2012-2014 was conducted.