Midwifery helps in family planning

 THE role of midwives in advocating for family planning could help prevent 87 million unintended pregnancies, many which result in unsafe abortions in developing countries and close to a third of all maternal deaths, according to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM).

“Midwives are the key to ensuring universal access to voluntary family planning,” UNFPA and ICM said in a statement yesterday.

The two organisations were highlighting the important role midwives played to mark the International Day of the Midwife last Sunday. 

However, in the National Capital District, the PNG Midwifery Association will stage a march from the Port Moresby General Hospital to Tabari Place, Boroko, today where awareness activities would be staged.

UNFPA and ICM said about 222 million women wanted to delay or avoid pregnancies but lacked the modern means to do so.

“Midwives’ invaluable counselling skills are instrumental in empowering young couples and women to make the decision that are right for their particular situations,” the statement said.

“UNFPA and ICM celebrate the work of midwives in contributing to the miracle of birth and for the myriad other things they do every day to contribute to the wellbeing of mothers and children around the world. 

“The tireless work of midwives is also a crucial step towards achieving the millennium development goals 4 and 5, targets A and B by 2015 and beyond.

In addition to their work, caring for women during and after childbirth to ensure safe deliveries and providing essential newborn care midwives provide a wide range of assistance in humanitarian emergencies.

“And they train and supervise community health workers to provide health information and promote safe practices.”

The statement said economic differences, inequalities in countries and inaccessibility of services in some areas contribute to a shortage of some 350,000 midwives at a time when the world needs midwives more than ever. 

“UNFPA and ICM has urged all nations to work together to address the inequalities and inaccessibility of midwifery services.

“All nations are encouraged to support quality training, innovative technologies and an enabling environment for midwives to match the vital role midwives played in communities and societies, especially in developing countries. 

“They also reiterated their commitment to investments to strengthen quality midwifery which would in turn promote healthier families, communities and nations.”