Reemployment: Community midwives to be deployed at BHUs

RAWALPINDI: Community midwives who had completed a bond period of three years by serving at their respective communities are being reemployed by the District Health Office as per orders of the Punjab government.

According to District Health Officer Dr Rafique Ahmed, positions that have remained vacant for a while in basic health units (BHU) across the district will be filled under this initiative. “There are currently 98 BHUs in Rawalpindi district out of which 57 do not have midwives,” he said.

The health department has advertised for walk-in interviews for the position. The relevant office will continue to conduct interviews until all positions are filled. However, the positions have been advertised for a contract period of one year.



Speaking to The Express Tribune, District Health Development Center Programme Director Dr Uzma Hayat said this was a long awaited initiative because local women who had already been trained and worked in their communities were left jobless after completing their bond period.

Outlining responsibilities for community midwives, Ahmed said midwives are specifically trained to become skilled birth attendants as opposed to lady health workers who are being trained to deal with basic family planning and health-related issues.

Hayat said a midwife undergoes a training period of 18 months and the initiative can prove helpful towards improved Maternal Newborn and Child Health services, women empowerment and poverty alleviation.

“These community midwives will be experienced enough to offer birth attendant services privately as well, thereby contributing in family income,” she added.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 1^st, 2015.