Chief midwife, ICM visits UTech

PROFESSOR JACQUELINE Dunkley-Bent, the first chief midwife for the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM). has emphasised the significance of advocating for voiceless women, particularly black women. She also stressed the need for global equity in midwifery to standardise essential competencies in the curricula.

As chief midwife, Professor Dunkley-Bent is responsible for championing the i nterests of midwives globally, elevating the profession’s profile, and emphasising the significant benefits of a well-resourced, educated, regulated, and empowered midwifery workforce.

Professor Dunkley-Bent was speaking during a visit to the University of Technology, Jamaica’s Papine campus on May 6, on the occasion of the I nternational Day of the Midwife, which was observed on May 5, 2024.

She noted that knowing, “if a country implements a professional framework in its entirety, then they will increase high-quality care for moms and babies and have a robust midwifery workforce”.

In a meeting with Professor Shermaine Barrett, acting deputy president and members of the College of Health Science’s leadership team, Professor Dunkley-Bent expressed her enthusiasm for t he field of midwifery and further emphasised the crucial role that midwives play in shaping healthcare for mothers and babies, particularly those from marginalised communities.

Professor Barrett expressed her appreciation for the work that has been accomplished thus far by the ICM, emphasising the significance of advocacy at all levels especially for those who do not know how to advocate on behalf of themselves. She underscored the importance of “building the capacity of the other regions to engage in advocacy [for] themselves using the language and experiences of their own people” to ensure optimal healthcare.

During her visit, Professor Dunkley-Bent met with members of the l eadership team and students, and toured facilities of the University’s Caribbean School of Nursing (CSON), College of Health Sciences. In her meeting with the students, Professor Dunkley-Bent motivated them to nurture their curiosity and dedicate themselves to bringing about a constructive transformation i n Jamaica to “safeguard the future of moms and babies”.

CONTRIBUTED During her tour of the Caribbean School of Nursing, Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, (centre) had the opportunity to explore one of the midwifery labs at UTech, Jamaica and examine a birthing simulator. Looking on are Dr. Adella Campbell (left) dean, College of Health Sciences, and Sophia Smith (right), lecturer, Caribbean School of Nursing (CSON), College of Health Sciences, UTech, Jamaica.