Although the incidence of mortality has declined significantly over the last two decades according to the World Bank, it is significantly higher than many other countries. Therefore, the efforts by organisations to train midwives in providing quality care and in running successful clinics should be supported.
Strengthening the role of community midwives
Considering we are a developing nation, the importance of imparting basic health education and awareness to all cannot be ignored. Although we are developing rapidly in economic aspects, our healthcare remains in a shambles. There is a stark contrast between how developed most of the world’s healthcare systems are compared with our own.
Expecting mothers in rural areas come from impoverished homes and often environments with poor hygiene, both of which are detrimental to the health of mother and child. Access to midwives would eliminate
certain costs and delays in treatment, not to mention provide opportunity for frequent check-ups to ensure a pregnancy is progressing safely. While we have some free and subsidised hospitals across the country, the treatment process can be cumbersome as there are limited doctors and resources, not to mention travel costs.
Additionally, free hospitals that rely almost solely on donations are not necessarily sustainable models, especially for catering to 189 million-plus people. Thus, training and stationing midwives in remote areas can assuage some of the burden on hospitals and families
Published in The Express Tribune, May 8th, 2017.
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