THE 2013 annual Midwives Conference was held last Friday at Regency Suites Hotel in an effort to increase awareness among midwives about the key and current issues with regards to maternal health; midwifery practices and education and to develop strategies to advance the midwifery profession.

The conference brought together midwives from the 10 administrative regions and was aimed at highlighting proper health care practices among them as they are considered key health care providers for achieving the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of ‘Improving Maternal Health’.

500 MORE NEW DOCTORS
Minister of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran in his address to the midwives pointed out that they are invaluable to the health sector with regards to the assistance they provide to doctors. He added that 500 more new doctors will be deployed into the health system and urged the midwives to assist in training them.
He explained also that the Maternity Ward Inspectorate Unit is concentrated in finding where the problems are within the hospital wards so things can be improved. The unit is made up of members of the Women’s Affairs Bureau, the Gender and Equality Commission, Red Thread and Women’s Progressive Organisation, among others. Unexpected visits are paid to the ward by the Units to determine if all is going as it should and required standards are met.
Minister Ramsaran observed that maternal mortality has been stabilised and commended nurses who were called to go on emergency trips into the regions. He also commended regional midwives who follow-up on their patients who disobey their medical instructions. The minister said that 99% of maternal deaths are caused by hemorrhaging and lauded the fact that the Blood Bank is ahead in its collection rate which helps with safe motherhood.
The Health Minister also explained the twinning of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation with the West Demerara Regional Hospital which is being under-utilised. This, he said, was obligatory since the heavy workload of the nurses, as well as overcrowding at the GPHC would be eased with moving or transfer of patients.
Presidential Advisor on Governance and former Health Minister, Gail Teixeira who delivered the feature address to the midwives told them in no uncertain terms that they were specialists. She explained that their work involves dedication, advocacy, and assessment and experience which all help them during the course of their work to determine if everything is all right or something is wrong. Ms. Teixeira said this was especially so with the accumulation of experience. She urged the midwives to continue their work with the aim of moving ahead and becoming better.
The conference was held under the theme “Midwives: Improving Women’s Health in Guyana”. Topics covered were cultural practices and beliefs in pregnancy and childbirth, respectful maternal care, maternal death audit and surveillance, ruptured uterus and malaria in pregnancy, bathing the infant and what is affecting midwives in the performance of their role and possible solutions. (GINA)