FWRM: Midwifery important in health sector
THE Fiji Women’s Rights Movement (FWRM) commemorated International Day of the Midwife by highlighting the important role that midwives play in our health sector.
In a press statement FWRM said over 65 per cent of World Health Organisation (WHO) member states, as of 2020, reported to have less than 50 nursing and midwifery personnel per 10,000 population.
“In many countries, nurses and midwives constitute more than 50 per cent of the national health workforce,” FWRM said.
“Though there is an abundance of information from high-income settings on what challenges midwives face and factors that force them to leave the profession, research from low- and middleincome settings is much more limited.
“Last year, the Fiji Nursing Association president Dr Alisi Vudiniabola said nurses were resigning because of stress, fatigue and lack of compensation.”
FWRM said the same sentiments were shared by Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre coordinator Shamima Ali.
“As different health communities in Fiji and globally mark the International Midwifery Day and week, we urge the Government and the Health Ministry to place more emphasis on the roles of midwives within our health sector and help support their growth and development.
“Too many health professionals are leaving our country for greener pastures.
“And we know anecdotally that too many women and babies are dying from preventable causes.
“Well-trained and supported midwives working in communities are uniquely positioned to provide the compassionate, respectful, and culturally sensitive care a woman needs during pregnancy and childbirth.
“Midwifery is equally important for newborns during the critical first month of life and is a significant contribution to sexual and reproductive health in general.”