The Garden City University College (GCUC) at Kenyasi in the Ashanti Region has held an event to commemorate this year’s International Day of the Midwife (IDM), with a call on midwives to contribute their quota towards the reduction of maternal mortality in the country.
Midwives have also been tasked to be friendlier to outsiders that can partner with mothers and their families to promote quality healthcare delivery.
The International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) set aside May 5 as the International Day of the Midwife (IDM) to honour midwives for their contribution to the health of their nations.
Delivering the keynote address at the event, Head of the Midwifery Department at theGarden City University College (GCUC), Dr Mrs. E. Esienumoh said the midwife has an important task in health counselling and education, not only for the woman but also within the family and the community.
She urged Midwives to play a key role in ensuring pregnant mothers go through safe delivery.
Dr Esienumoh also described as unethical, instances where Midwives subject patients especially pregnant mothers to harsh conditions when they go to deliver at health facilities.
“It is not ethical, no midwife is trained to insult their clients, the pregnant women. They should relate well to the women and respect them”, she stressed.
She indicated that the attitude of some midwives towards pregnant women is likely to increase their patronage of the services of Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) which sometimes leads to complications and deaths.
She has therefore called on all midwives to remain professional in the discharge of their duties.
Head of Department of Environmental Science at the GCUC, Professor Bernard Lawson urged midwives to prioritize personal and environmental hygiene in their field of work.
He said it is unsafe for babies to be delivered in an unkempt environment and tasked midwives to always ensure both the mother and the baby are not exposed to poor environmental conditions.
According to the United Nations, 80% maternal deaths are avoidable, given the right strategies including skilled attendants, Emergency Obstetric Care and community mobilization.
The event was climaxed with a tree planting exercise.
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By: Hafiz Tijani/Citinewsroom.com/Ghana